Tomorrow, Saturday, September 19th, Lonnie Ellis, an Elder of Blazing Fire, and Angela Elias are getting married during our worship service! The service begins at 6:00 pm. We have enjoyed a wedding during our worship service one other time before and it was positively "off-the-hook!" We are anticipating an extra large crowd, so I encourage you to come a bit early to get a seat. We will begin with the same passionate worship time that you are used to experiencing at Blazing Fire and at the conclusion of that time, Angela will come down the aisle to meet her waiting groom!
There is, of course, another Groom who is waiting as well! He has his gaze fixed attentively on his bride--a gaze marked by expressive pleasure, delightful joy, and steadfast love! This was the Groom who, for the joy set before him, endured the cross, thinking nothing of the shame (Heb. 12:2). You were absolutely the joy that was set before Jesus! He had to have you as his very own for all of eternity and he willingly chose to lay down his life to set you free to become his perfect match that you were meant to be. He not only sacrificed himself to be sure that sin could not take you down, but he also continuosly sings his truth over you to be sure that your beauty increases from glory to glory!
The Message Bible translates part of Ephesians 5 like this: "Christ's love makes the church whole. His words evoke her beauty. Everything he does and says is designed to bring the best out of her, dressing her in dazzling white silk, radiant with holiness!" That's you and me, beloved! This is what Jesus does for us without fail because He WILL have a radiant, beautiful bride at his side, and His strong love will faithfully and perfectly bring us down the isle where he will capture his prize to be his forever!
Here is a foretaste of what is coming: "Then I heard the sound of massed choirs, the sound of a mighty ctaract, the sound of strong thunder: 'Hallelujah! The Master reigns, our God, the Sovereign-Strong! Let us celebrate, let us rejoice, let us give him the glory! The Marriage of the Lamb has come, his Wife has made herself ready. She was given a bridal gown of bright and shining linen. The linen is the righteousness of the saints.'"
Can you hear the wedding bells ringing? They are louder than they have ever been and you are looking more beautiful to Jesus than ever before! Keep your eye on the Prize just as he is doing with you!
There is, of course, another Groom who is waiting as well! He has his gaze fixed attentively on his bride--a gaze marked by expressive pleasure, delightful joy, and steadfast love! This was the Groom who, for the joy set before him, endured the cross, thinking nothing of the shame (Heb. 12:2). You were absolutely the joy that was set before Jesus! He had to have you as his very own for all of eternity and he willingly chose to lay down his life to set you free to become his perfect match that you were meant to be. He not only sacrificed himself to be sure that sin could not take you down, but he also continuosly sings his truth over you to be sure that your beauty increases from glory to glory!
The Message Bible translates part of Ephesians 5 like this: "Christ's love makes the church whole. His words evoke her beauty. Everything he does and says is designed to bring the best out of her, dressing her in dazzling white silk, radiant with holiness!" That's you and me, beloved! This is what Jesus does for us without fail because He WILL have a radiant, beautiful bride at his side, and His strong love will faithfully and perfectly bring us down the isle where he will capture his prize to be his forever!
Here is a foretaste of what is coming: "Then I heard the sound of massed choirs, the sound of a mighty ctaract, the sound of strong thunder: 'Hallelujah! The Master reigns, our God, the Sovereign-Strong! Let us celebrate, let us rejoice, let us give him the glory! The Marriage of the Lamb has come, his Wife has made herself ready. She was given a bridal gown of bright and shining linen. The linen is the righteousness of the saints.'"
Can you hear the wedding bells ringing? They are louder than they have ever been and you are looking more beautiful to Jesus than ever before! Keep your eye on the Prize just as he is doing with you!
