Bride of Christ, do you know who you really are? Do you comprehend that you are God's Own handiwork and as such you are ravishingly beautiful? Do you understand how passionately you are loved even in the midst of your flaws, failures and weaknesses? Do you perceive the incredible role that God has ordained for you to play in His great end time drama? If your answer is "no" or "I am not sure", you are spiritually asleep and in desperate need of waking up!
About ten years ago I was deeply stirred concerning the sleeping Church and felt led to launch a website addressed to the sleeping Bride of Christ. Since that time, many have awakened from their sleep and are arising to fulfill their destiny of becoming a Glorious Bride. Since there is still a large portion of the Church asleep, I feel an urgency to once again address this issue of the sleeping Church. Therefore, I am posting an updated version of the first article I wrote for my website titled: "Wake Up Sleeping Beauty".
Never in the history of mankind has it been more important than it is now for the Bride of Christ to be awake! Time is rapidly marching forward on God's timetable and there is much to be accomplished. We are exhorted in Romans: 13:11, 12: "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. The night is far gone [and] the day is almost here." This is certainly not the time to be asleep! However, it appears much of the Bride of Christ is in a state of spiritual slumber, having been lulled to sleep with the affairs and weights of this life coupled with the riches and pleasures of this present age. In her slumbering state, the Church has very little comprehension of her true identity, her magnificent beauty, and the incredible destiny God has ordained for her to perform - a destiny hidden in His heart before the foundation of time.
I see the story of Sleeping Beauty to be a prophetic picture of the slumbering Bride of Christ. Similar to this tale, the Bride of Christ is about to be awakened by her Prince. On the theater of mind, I visualize the Bride of Christ in her glorious wedding gown lying on a bed - asleep. I then observe as her Heavenly Prince enters the room, kneels down beside her, and gently kisses her. She awakens, captivated with the Lover of her soul. He speaks lovingly to her and says, "Wake up Sleeping Beauty. Awaken to your true identity and the glorious beauty you possess. Awaken to the incredible role that I have ordained for you to fulfill. My treasured Bride, arise and shine with Heaven's glory!"
I believe the awakening of the Bride of Christ will be far greater in scope and impact than the Great Awakenings that took place in America between the early eighteenth century and the twentieth century - awakenings which spawned mighty revivals and brought about considerable transformation in the Church. Once revived and transformed, the Church had an enormous impact on society. All that God accomplished through the Great Awakenings will pale in comparison to that which God is about to bring to pass in the near future through His awakened Church.
Our Beloved God is turning the pages of His eternal story written before the foundation of time, and as He does, His plans are unfolding in this earth realm.The end of the ages is approaching and we are about to behold "the greatest show on earth". A divine invasion of the glory of God is about to inundate our planet. We are on the brink of our natural world being invaded by the eternal, supernatural realm of God. The magnitude of that which we are about to experience cannot be measured by anything that has previously taken place. We will stand in awe as we behold the miraculous unfold as God's magnificent glory fills and floods our world! Nothing or no one can stop this inevitable reality for God has declared, "As surly as I live, My glory shall fill the earth." (Numbers 14:21)
Although God Himself will release mighty signs and wonders in the earth, we as His people must not lose sight of the fact that God has chosen to reveal His glory in and through the Church (His Bride). It is written, "Jesus is coming to be glorified in His saints and on that day, His glory will be reflected in all who believe" (2 Thessalonians 1:10). Jesus Himself will partner with His Bride, and together they will bring forth great manifestations and demonstrations of Glory.
It is essential for the Bride of Christ to be mindful that she is not here at this time in history by chance or accident, but rather by Divine appointment. As Esther, we have come to the Kingdom for such a time as this. Each of us have a vital role to fulfill. Our contribution to and participation in God's magnificent plan is vitally important. Bear in mind that we were redeemed with purpose: not to merely escape hell and live eternally in heaven, but our redemption includes the mandate to be transformed into the likeness of Christ. This transformation will render a temple that is capable of containing a measure of the glory of God that no other generation has "housed". As such, the Bride of Christ will rise up mighty in God and display for the entire world to see the overwhelming power of the plan of redemption as the glory of God manifests itself in human flesh (us). We will experience that which is spoken of in Ephesians 3:19: "We will be filled through all our being with the fullness of God - becoming a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself."
Today the world is not impressed with the Church. We are considered weak and powerless, having little influence upon society. An age-changing transition is transpiring. "Sleeping Beauty" (The Bride of Christ) is awakening! As she awakens, she is becoming keenly aware of her true identity and the magnificent beauty she possesses. She is grasping how passionately she is loved by her Beloved, even in the midst of her flaws, failures, and weaknesses. Out of this revelation, the Bride of Christ will arise and fulfill an obscure passage of scripture in Song of Solomon. She will be"fair as the moon, pure as the sun, and terrible as a bannered host" (Song of Solomon 6:10). Glorious Bride, your greatest days lie before you!
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:
The Coming Glory
Carrying the Dreams of God
Scripture References:
Romans 13:11
Numbers 14:21
2 Thessalonians 1:10
Ephesians 3:19
Song of Solomon 6:10