Week five the focus is on the perspective God’s house sees the world through. Again, there is some background thoughts and verses, and then passages to meditate on. Return to these as often as you like (our suggestion is every day during this period!), dialog with the Lord about what they mean to Him, use the questions at the bottom as fuel, and then pray it: God if that’s what’s in your heart than do … in me, and do … in my city and in the nations of the earth!
Week 5: The Perspective of God’s House – The Bridal Paradigm
PDF Handout – Week 5 – The Bridal Paradigm
Background Verses: One of the markers of God’s house that will increasingly set her apart from the rest of the world is a radically different view of life. As the world around us becomes increasingly driven by anxiety and need, and hardened by cynicism and disappointment, God’s church will stand in stark contrast filled with joy and peace, and overflowing with beauty and hope.
1 Peter 3:14-15 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,
That joy and peace flows from encountering the love of God as a cherished bride. The joy and stability of God’s house is found in the access we have to His presence.
Isaiah 56:7 these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer…
Ephesians 3:11-19 This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
It’s in the joy of knowing with absolute confidence how God feels about us and the way He delights in us and delights in loving us well.
Ephesians 5:30 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body.
Isaiah 62:4-5 You shall no more be termed Forsaken, and your land shall no more be termed Desolate, but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her, and your land Married; for the Lord delights in you, and your land shall be married. For as a young man marries a young woman, so shall your sons marry you, and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.
More than that, it’s in the rest and trust we have in the ability of our heavenly Father to bring forth the glorious wedding He has promised.
Jude 1:24 Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy…
Revelation 19:6-8 Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. 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.
More than anything, though, it’s in the glorious mystery of our already accomplished union to Christ and in the wonder of a life lived not to earn His affections or commitment, but for the unfolding of that already given love and nearness.
John 17:22-23 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.”
Ephesians 5:31-32 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.
John 14:19-21 Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”
Meditation Passage: Ephesians 5:25-32 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.
Food for Thought: What thoughts about Jesus’ level of commitment to His bride can you find in this passage to stand on? Is our oneness with Christ present or future in Jesus’ mind? Is Jesus aware His bride has blemishes? What’s His attitude towards them? How does Jesus plan to move forward with His bride?
Prayer: Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.