The Glorious Bride of Christ has a destiny so astounding and so immensely important that she simply must awaken to her true identity and grasp the role she will play in the out workings of that which God has ordained for the times in which we live! Much of the Church has been lulled into a spiritual sleep that has caused the Bride of Christ to become dull to spiritual realities.
In the early 1970's I taught a class for young girls. As I prepared a lesson on The King's Daughter, the Lord spoke to my heart from Psalms 45:13: "The King's daughter IS all glorious within." He then said to me, "She IS beautiful on the inside." Little did I know at the time, that to My Beloved God, I was already beautiful. I was His unique, special creation - His beautiful handiwork. For sure, I undeniably had much spiritual maturing to do. Yet, in spite of all my flaws, insecurities, weaknesses, inadequacies, and an unawareness of this beauty, to my God I was beautiful. The threads of this wonderful word from the Lord have been woven into my heart throughout the years and continue to propel me forward in my pursuit to stand before Him glorious when I cross over into the heavenly realm.
CRAFTED IN HIS IMAGE
It is of utmost importance that we know what transpires within our spirit through regeneration (being born again). In 1 John 4:4 (KJV), we find this statement: "Ye are of God." The Greek word used in this passage translated of is "ek", meaning: origin, from, out of. We see a good rendering of this meaning in Kenneth Wuest's translation of this verse: "As for you, out of God you are, little born ones..." (The New Testament An Expanded Translation). Because we are born of God, we come right out of God Himself. As such, we have been created after His pattern, His image, and His likeness. Our inner man has been created according to God Himself. Ephesians 2:10 declares us to be God's Own workmanship created "in Christ Jesus." (I would encourage you to read and meditate Ephesians Chapter 1. Allow it's words to sink deep into your heart.)
Being "in Christ" establishes a wonderful new identity for the Bride of Christ. From start to finish, we are His design. 2 Corinthians 5:17 states: "Therefore if any person is (ingrafted) in Christ, the Messiah, he is (a new creature altogether), a new creation; the old (previous moral and spiritual condition) has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!" How marvelous it would be if only we could see the dramatic change that transpires in us the instant we are recreated. In that matchless moment, our identity of sin, shame, and guilt are dealt a death blow. Our spirit man is then raised up from spiritual death through the power of the Holy Spirit and then infused with the very life and nature of God.
BEAUTY FOR ASHES
The prophet Isaiah speaks to us about one of the biggest trade offs ever made in human history: He tells us we have been given beauty for ashes (61:3). Our ashes (sins, shortcomings, struggles, scars, failures, fears, weaknesses, brokenness, insecurities, etc.) are not an issue with God. He has dealt with them. Through divine exchange, (when we are regenerated), God takes all the ashes of our life, and He imparts to us beauty. Mind you, not any kind of beauty, but the rarest of beauty, because it is His very Own that He gives to us (Ezekiel 16:14).
I dearly love the Song of Solomon. I am fascinated with the prophetic allegory of Christ and His Bride, which is found within its pages. I have come to believe that this Song reveals and unveils the heart of my Heavenly Bridegroom and gives to me an astonishing glimpse of myself, as He sees me. For example, in chapter 4, verse 7, the Bridegroom exclaims, "O my love, how beautiful you are! There is no flaw in you!"
Our beauty is far, far beyond our natural capacity for understanding. It is stunning beyond description! Our matchless God is so satisfied with who He has made us to the extent He declares in Psalms 45:11 (NIV) that He is enthralled with our beauty: He is captivated with who He has made us! Yes, even in the midst of our immaturity, brokenness, and failure, God perceives in us more beauty than we can envision. God sees each of us as beautiful because of what He accomplished in our salvation and transformation. We are His glorious, beautiful masterpiece. Not only are we beautiful now, but we are destined for an eternal beauty yet to be unveiled. Can you even begin to perceive what the Bride of Christ will look like in eternity?
PROPHETIC WORD:
"There is a people about to arise who live in the knowledge of who they are and operate in the authority and dominion that has been invested in them and will be dispersed through them. They are My vessels - those who have been prepared as a Glorious Bride adorned with the beauty of their Beloved King. The world will stand in awe as they behold the "works" of their God manifested through these chosen vessels. Demons will tremble as these victorious conquerors speak with the authority of heaven and demonstrate the power of God as they become saturated with His presence and glory."
Recommended Reading:
Wake Up Sleeping Beauty
Consider Your Destiny
The Coming Glory
Carrying the Dreams of God
Scripture References:
Ephesians 1
Ephesians 5:13
Isaiah 60:1-2
Psalms 45:11
Psalms 45:13
1 John 4:4
Ephesians 2:10
Philippians 3:12
Romans 8:29
Isaiah 61:3
Ezekiel 16:14
2 Corinthians 5:17