Journey to Behold the Bride

 

Before summer comes spring.

Spring is typically a time of anticipation and new beginnings - new beginnings loaded with God's potential that make all things new and good.  But for us and a few  other sojourners, the spring of 2014 was a time to die to self, and let go of the structure and form of church we had called “Home” for many years. This past springtime taught us first hand about the conditions and the cost needed for new life to begin.

This journey to behold the Bride begins in the summer.

It is a time in the natural where we see visibly the fulfilment of what spring had promised. Buds have opened up boasting the flower and fruit that had been waiting for just the right conditions to breakthrough and grow.  This is a delightful mystery that man has no part in, except to behold and marvel.  

“Behold” is properly a Greek imperative meaning "Behold!"

This is literally, "Be sure to see . . . !," i.e. "Don't miss this! It is an observable, objective fact!" God's creation feeds us with many wonderful observable facts of His Sovereignty.   Just as we cannot stop the bud from blossoming or bearing fruit nor can we stop our Triune God from accomplishing all that he has purposed.

Mark 4:26-29

He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how.  All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head.  As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”

All His promises are 'yes' and 'so be it'!  Everything He has said, He will do. And His will shall be done on earth as it is in heaven. His zeal will accomplish all things. The harvest will come!

We will praise the name of the Lord.

We will fix and focus our eyes off of people and upon Him, for only He is Faithful and True. Has He not told us that unless He builds the house we labour in vain and unless He watches over the city the watchmen watch in vain? So, we place our trust and hope in Him.  And in this in- between time before the promise, we say to ourselves, “Why so downcast oh my soul? Give thanks to the Lord for He is good and what He purposes He will do. He will build His Church and the gates of hell will not prevail! Yes! He will build His Church and the gates of hell will NOT prevail.”

We also acknowledge that His ways are not our ways.

The Lord works for the good of those who love Him and those who have been called according to His purpose. Holding onto this promise we follow, leaving behind much that we did not want to leave, we press into the call to discern and behold.   We search for those places that have prepared a place for Him in their hearts...searching for His bride....wherever she is. On this journey we will not let our hearts grow cold but rather we will consider Christ's love for His Bride and that He is her Bridegroom.  We also remember the vow we made before the Lord: to attend to His Bride and do His bidding so that she would be made ready for Him - beautiful, vibrant, radiant, and enthralled with the glory and goodness of her groom Jesus.  And then being made whole and holy, she would become the resting place for the very presence and glory of the Lord - a Bride fit for a King!

As the seasons of fall and winter settle around and upon us

may our gracious God give us His grace to behold Him as two or more gather in His name. May He  find us ministering to Him first and then to one another. In wonderment and humility may we not despise the small beginnings and in them may He see our devotion and our passion for Him alone.  Then may He use us to help prepare His Bride!

Our prayer for this journey of waiting , watching and beholding is

that the Spirit of God would keep us alert to behold all that is good; His presence, His voice, His face, His love. And may new faith rise up in us and leap with great hope for the Bride of Christ.  For just like the seasons of time follow their prescribed times, so too are the times and seasons of the Spirit.  And we know that in the fullness of time, that which has been promised shall be fulfilled.

So we say to our souls, “Be still and know God”

Embrace the times - behold God and His ways.  Learn from Him, from His word,  from His Spirit, His people, His creation - we are instructed to know  the times and seasons.

Listen to the wisdom of the fall season.

In the deciduous trees, when sunlight decreases in autumn, the veins that carry sap in and out of the leaves gradually close.  A layer of cells called “the separation layer” forms at the base of the leaf stem.  When this layer is complete, the leaf is separated from the tissue that connected it to the branch and it falls.  The word “deciduous” means “the dropping of a part no longer needed” or “falling away after its purpose has been fulfilled”. 

John 12:24(NIV)

Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.

This is a natural process bringing us into the cold and rest of the winter season. In stillness we remember that it is the fall and winter seasons which prepare and preserve the seed until..

In the fullness of time, the life inside the seed bursts forth...... unrestrained and unstopable! New life has come!

 Is 43:18-19

Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?

So, it is with this knowledge and faith that we journey...and we give thanks for this wide open and spacious place that the Lord is leading us to.  May we be quick to discern His presence and His voice through all that we see and hear.  As we go, we must conclude that the desire of our heart for this journey is really to behold Him. For we know that where He is, there His Bride will be also. 

And now we speak to you Bride of Christ, We speak God's word to you from Isaiah 35:4

 “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, He will come with vengeance; with divine retribution, He will come to save you!

Come Lord Jesus!

 Maranatha..

*Portions of the above writing regarding "seasons" were inspired by a book written by 
Mark Buchanan, called "Spiritual Rhythm: Being with Jesus Every Season of Your Soul"
To view click here

                                                                                    

A Declaration for the Bride across Canada

adapted from Heather Ann's song, “Awakening Tasmania”

Theres a heart of stirring, a fires burning

 A river is flowing and hearts are turning

Theres a heart of stirring, a fires burning

A rivers is flowing and hearts are turning

into your Bride

A great awakening O Lord a fresh anointing of your word.

Your Kingdom come Your will be done here across this land

Let Your healing waters flow that man

may know Your power of love and hope in Canada

Theres a people rising up for the sake of the call

Theres a people praying for fire fire fall

Father we pray for Your beloved bride.

Lord, we thank You for the hunger and burning hearts of Your people and we ask that You would pour out Your Spirit on the north and on the south to the east and to the west. And Father as Your word says, “The least of you would become a nation the smallest a mighty nation. I am the Lord, in its time I will do this swiftly.

We are awakening O Lord

We are responding to Your word

We are declaring hearts for You.

Let Your healing waters flow that all man

 may know Your power, love and hope in Canada.

Let Your healing waters flow that all man may know Your power, love and hope in Canada.

A  M  E  N