Acknowledgments L
iving Logos was the heart-work of Bro Dale Starks and Sis Josephine Starks, missionaries to Singapore in the early 1980s. As the original authors of this devotionals, the Starks meant for these self-study materials to help new converts (and matured saints alike) get a hold of an understanding of God’s written Word. Since Sis Stark’s passing in 2013, the couple had graciously entrusted Tabernacle of Joy with its copyright. Therefore, with every print run, we would like to honour their life work and sacrifice in bringing the gospel to Singapore. This copy is an updated and revised version. Be blessed as you immerse yourself in the Word and allow God to transform you into the likeness of Jesus Christ.
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Spiritual Growth 1
SPIRITUAL GROWTH 1
Lesson
Twenty
THE BRIDE OF JESUS CHRIST “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. — revelatIon 19:7-10
The greatest relationship we can enjoy with Jesus Christ is to be a part of His bride. The church is the bride of Jesus Christ. We are now sons and daughters of Jesus Christ, but we shall be more intimate with Him in the life that is to come—we will be His bride! The story of Isaac and Rebekah is a beautiful example of the three offices or manifestations of God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in finding, and preparing a bride for Jesus Christ. The following is an excerpt from our study of Genesis, Lesson Eight, which relates this story:
A BRIDE FOR ISAAC Abraham (a type of the Father) was very concerned that his son, Isaac (a type of the Son), marry the right woman. He did not want him to marry one of the idol-worshipping Canaanites, among whom they were living. He sent his chief servant (a type of the Holy Ghost) to take a wife for Isaac among his own kindred, back in his own country (Genesis 24: 1-10).
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God led the servant to the right woman. Parental approval was quick because they agreed it was of the Lord. But the woman must also give her approval. Abraham had laid down one condition. The woman must not be forced to marry Isaac. She must willingly choose to become his wife. She was asked: “Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go” (verse 58).
The servant gave many gifts unto the bride-to-be to prepare her for her bridegroom. The next morning, they made their journey back to Isaac’s camp, where there was a very touching meeting in the field (verses 64-66). “And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her...” (verse 67).
Notice that the Bible always places a special emphasis on love. Nothing is said about any riches, social status, or any such thing being offered to Rebekah, Isaac’s wife. The emphasis is on this fact: “he loved her.” There are many marriages that take place because of the wrong reasons, but how wonderful it is when love is the chief foundation for a marriage.
A BRIDE FOR JESUS CHRIST The sending forth of the servant to get a bride for the son is a type of the Holy Spirit, sent forth into the world to prepare a group of people who would choose to love and serve Jesus Christ, thus becoming His “bride.” The Holy Spirit does not force us to choose to serve Jesus Christ. We must willingly say, “I will go.” When we say “yes” to God, He has many gifts that He gives us to prepare us for the bridegroom. The “gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38) is the greatest one of them all, for this is the invisible presence of Jesus that comes into our life. This presence will give us not only love, peace and joy, but also a greater understanding of God’s Word, and His will for our lives. Jesus Himself occasionally made reference to His future relationship with the believers. The disciples of John the Baptist came to Jesus and asked why His disciples did not fast. Jesus answer was: “Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.” — matthew 9:15
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John referred to Jesus as the bridegroom, and himself as the friend of the bridegroom (John 3:29). Jesus gave several parables concerning His relationship as the bridegroom: 1. the paRabLe of the maRRiaGe feast (matthew 22:1-14) 2. the paRabLe of the ten viRGins (matthew 25:1-13) These parables teach the importance of preparing ourselves for the coming “marriage feast.” We must be wearing the “wedding garment,” which is the garment of salvation. The five foolish virgins were careless, and did not make sure that they stayed filled with the oil of the Holy Spirit. We must not take our salvation for granted. “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall.” — II Peter 1:10
Paul had a beautiful understanding concerning Jesus Christ being our bridegroom: “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.” — ePhesIans 5:25-27; 30-32
Jesus Christ gave us a beautiful promise, before He went away: “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” — John 14:2, 3
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Surely our eternal home is already prepared, and Jesus is getting ready to come back for His bride, the church of Jesus Christ. Paul tells us that He is coming after “a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing,” a church that is “holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:27). We must make sure that we are preparing ourselves for our bridegroom: “. . . for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.” — revelatIon 19:7 “. . . the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of Man cometh.” — matthew 25:10-13
VOCABULARY Intimate
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a very close association, relationship, or friendship
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Lesson Twenty Test Spirtual Growth 1
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The greatest relationship we can enjoy with Jesus is to be a part of His _______________________.
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The story of Isaac and Rebekah is a beautiful example of the three _________________________ finding and preparing a bride for Jesus Christ.
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Abraham was concerned that his _________ marry the _______ wife.
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Abraham’s chief servant was a type of __________________________.
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What was the one condition that Abraham laid down concerning the woman chosen for Isaac.
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What was her answer to the question, “Wilt thou go with this man?”
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The Bible always places a special emphasis on ____________________.
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The Holy Spirit does not force us to choose to serve ______________________.
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We must willingly say _______________________________.
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When we say ___________, He gives us many gifts.
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The chief of these gifts is the gift of ____________________________.
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12. Jesus referred to His disciples as “children of the _______________,” and Himself as the “_______________.”
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13. John referred to Jesus as the _______________ and himself as ____ __________________________________.
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Briefly relate what the two parables in Matthew 22:1-14, and Matthew 25:1-13 teach us:
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Peter warned us, “make your calling and election _____________.”
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Paul wrote that husbands should love their wives as _________________ __________________________.
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Jesus is going to present to Himself “a _____________church, not having _________ or ______________ or _____________________.
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We must make sure that we are ________________________________ for our bridegroom.
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What was of special interest to you in this lesson?
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