It is essential for the Church to have a heart revelation of the incredible role she is destined to fulfill in God's great end time drama. As the Bride of Christ, we must continually remind ourselves that we are not here in this earth by chance or accident, rather by divine appointment. We were born for this hour - the time of the end- the culmination of all things; the time that the prophets of old prophesied about and longed to see. We have been chosen by our Heavenly Father to be part of the prophesied "last days" generation; the generation that will "reach spiritual completion and be filled through all our being unto the fullness of God - that is have the richest measure of the Divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself " (Ephesians 3:19). It is this body, the Bride of Christ, who will rise up mighty in God and display for all the world to see a reflection of His glorious beauty and the power of redemption manifest in human flesh as the glory of God fills her temple.
Right now, at this very moment, in our earthen vessels we are carrying within our spiritual womb a heavenly treasure - a measure of the glory of God. It is the same glory that filled Moses' tabernacle and Solomon's temple; the same transcendent glory that radiated from Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration. Isaiah prophesied that God's people would be filled with such a degree of glory that kings would come to the rising of their glory (Isaiah 60:3). The end-time Bride of Christ will carry within her mortal body a fullness of the glory of God that no other generation has experienced. Gloriousness is our destination for both this life and throughout eternity. Forever we will shine with the magnificent glory of God!
Destined for Gloriousness
Every generation has had its role to play in the out-workings of God's plans and purposes. Our generation has been destined and appointed to become the glorious Church, and as such, "house" a fullness of the glory of God. Paul writes of God's magnificent intention for the Church: "[ (the Church) might develop] until we all attain oneness in the faith and in the comprehension of the full and accurate knowledge of the Son of God; that[we might arrive] at really mature manhood - the completeness of personality which is nothing less than the standard height of Christ's own perfection - the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, and the completeness found in Him" (Ephesians 4:13). God's eternal purposes will be realized as we are transformed into Christlikeness, thus becoming a reflection of His glorious beauty. In Isaiah 60:7 we read, "...My glorious house will I glorify."
This awesome destiny of gloriousness that has been conferred upon us will become a wonderful reality through (and only through) the workings of the Holy Spirit within us. No matter how spiritually mature we become, we can't glorify ourselves. Our glorification is a supernatural, sovereign act of God and His grace. It is, and always will be, God, Who glorifies us.
We are living in the most exciting time of all of history. Our greatest days lie before us. As the Bride of Christ, we are destined for things far greater than our hearts and mind are fully capable of understanding! The destiny which lies before us is one that has been in the heart of God since the foundation of the world. Our God has been preparing, purifying, and positioning us for this day and hour of the revealing of His glory. We are about to rise and shine with the radiant glory of God. Although many see the world growing darker, there is a remnant in the Church eagerly anticipating the rising of God's glory. There is great expectancy being birthed in the heart of God's Glorious Bride. As such, our focus is turning from that which can be seen with our natural eyes toward the unseen realm of God.
I believe there are many saints of God who have walked with Him for numerous years (some even for a lifetime) and just as Sarah, have found that their long held dreams have not come to pass. For many these unfulfilled dreams have created a deep cry for spiritual fruitfulness, and now that time has passed with unfulfilled longings, many have given up their dreams considering themselves to be past the time of experiencing that which they had hoped would come to pass. Some, as Sarah feel "past age". Several years ago the Lord spoke to me and said, "In the end of this age senior adults will participate in and produce age defying exploits." That is exactly what transpired with Sarah: through the supernatural intervention of the Lord, Sarah defied her age and her barrenness, and became fruitful. We each, no matter our age, have great treasure residing within our spiritual bellies. God is no respecter of age! He is not confined, constricted, or restricted by age! "It shall come to pass in the last days that God will pour out His Spirit on ALL flesh" (Acts 2:17).
We simply must be awake at this most strategic time in history so as not to miss the moment for which we were born! Romans 13:11,12 exhorts us: "Besides this you know what a critical hour this is, how it is high time now for you to wake up out of your sleep - rouse to reality. for salvation (final deliverance) is nearer to us now than when we first believed - adhered to, trusted in and relied on Christ the Messiah." It is time for this natural realm to be invaded by the glorious eternal realm of God!
In light of the lateness of the hour, the greatness of God's plan, and the hopeless desperation in our world, I exhort you, Bride of Christ, refuse to get caught up in what the enemy is doing (this present darkness) and focus on your Beloved God and the incredible destiny He has designed for His Bride to fulfill. We are about to arise "all glorious within" - a Bride adorned in beauty, purity, and holiness, wielding great power and awesome authority. We will fulfill an obscure word found in Song of Solomon 6:10: " Who is this who looks forth as the dawn, fair as the moon, clear and pure as the sun, and terrible as a bannered host?"Historically, this is a picture of Solomon's bride; prophetically this is a portrait of the Bride of Christ arising in God's glory.
Currently the world mocks the Church. They consider her to be weak and powerless, having little influence or relevance upon society. In the not too distant future, the world will be asking a riveting question. They will be asking, "Who is this glorious creature who has arisen and wields so much authority that even devils tremble in her presence?" What a day this will be!
Recommended Reading:
Carrying the Dreams of God
The Coming Glory
Wake Up Sleeping Beauty
Scripture References:
Ephesians 2:10
Isaiah 43:7
Philippians 3:12
John 14:12
1 John 4:4
Romans 8:29
2 Peter 1:4
Acts 2:17
Song of Solomon 6:10