Christ, the bridegroom and the lamb shall return for His bride- the Church, but is she ready?

Christ, the bridegroom and the lamb shall return for His bride- the Church, but is she ready? 

 The Spiritual Christian desires to be useful, not famous.

Book recommendation: "That Incredible Christian" by A.W. Tozer

Scripture Ref.:

The Spiritual Christian says boldly with their Lord, "the prince of this world is coming and he has nothing in me".

Book recommendation: "That Incredible Christian" by A.W. Tozer

Scripture Ref.:

1. John 14:30 ("The prince of this world is coming, and he has nothing in me.")

2. John 10:10 ("The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.")

3. 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 (The god of this age)

4. Hebrews 4:15-16 (Jesus our High priest who sympathizes with our weaknesses; the throne of grace.)

5. Titus 2:11 ("For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age...")

6. Ephesians 5:25-27 (Christ is washing me to present me to Himself as spotless, and without blemish. I am the trophy, the masterpiece of God. )

7. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (Christ won the race, that we too can run to be first. Just as the head overcame, so will the body of the head overcome. In this, we discipline ourselves to finish the race.)

8. 1 Peter 2:11-12 (We are sojourners and pilgrims.)

9. Philippians 3:20 (Our citizenship is in heaven.)

10. 1 John 3:1-3 (Having the hope of the appearance of Christ Jesus, let us purify ourselves, just as He is pure.)

11. 1 Corinthians 15:19 ("If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.")

The Spiritual Christian desires holiness over happiness.

Book recommendation: "That Incredible Christian" by A.W. Tozer

Scripture Ref.:

1. 1 Peter 2:4-10 (A chosen generation, a royal priesthood.)

2. Leviticus 19:2 ("...You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.")

3. Leviticus 20:26 ("And you shall be holy to Me, for I the Lord am holy, and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be Mine.")

4. Galatians 5:17-18 (The Spirit and the flesh war against each other)

5. Proverbs 20:27 ("The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of the belly.")

6. John 14:15 (“If you love Me, keep My commandments.")

7. Romans 5:35-39 (Nothing at can separate us from the love of God)

8. Hebrews 13:8 ("Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.")

9. Proverbs 9:10 ("The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.")

10. Hebrews 12:14 ("Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.")

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The Spiritual Christian desires holiness over happiness.

Book recommendation: "That Incredible Christian" by A.W. Tozer

Scripture Ref.:

1. Proverbs 3:13 ("Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding")

2.Proverbs 4:7 ("Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding")

3.Matthew 13:45-46 (The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price)

4. Matthew 13:44 (The Parable of the Hidden Treasure)

5. 1 Corinthians 1:30 ("But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God- and righteousness and sanctification and redemption...")

6. 1 Corinthians 2:6-8 (Christ the hidden wisdom of God that is revealed in time)

7. Proverbs 3:18 (Happy are all who retain wisdom)

8. Proverbs 16:20 (Happy are those who heed the word of God, and trust in Him)

9. John 8:3-11 (Go and sin no more)

10. James 1:22-26 (Be doers of the word, not only hearers!)

11. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ("Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything...")

12. Philippians 4:6-7 (Be anxious for nothing!)

13. Proverbs 3:5 ("Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding...")

14. 2 Corinthians 4:7 ("But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.")

15. Matthew 11:29 ("Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.")

16. John 18:36 ("...My kingdom is not of this world..."

17. Matthew 4:4 ("...it is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.")

18. Proverbs 28:14 ("Happy is the man who is always reverent, but he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.")

19. Psalm 127 (Happy is the man who has his quiver full of children in his youth)

The Spiritual Christian desires holiness over happiness.

Book recommendation: "That Incredible Christian" by A.W. Tozer

Scripture Ref.: 

1. Jeremiah 17:9 ("The Heart is deceitful above all things...")  

2. Ezekiel 36:26 ("I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you...")

3. Deuteronomy 33:29 ("Happy are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD...")

4. Ephesians 1:6 ("...to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.)

5. John 1:18 ("No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.")

6. Romans 8:33-39 ("Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies...")

7. Psalm 144:1-15 ("...happy are the people whose God is the LORD!")

8. John 18:39-40 (Jesus takes the place of Barabbas)

9. Job 15:17-27 ("Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects; therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty...")

10. Proverbs 3:11 ("My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, nor detest His correction; for whom the Lord loves He corrects, ...")

11. Hebrews 12:1-11 (God chastens the children of His Kingdom unto His holiness)

12. Revelation 3:14-22 (Christ's letter to the Lukewarm Laodicean church)

13. Revelation 17:14 ("...those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.")

14. 2 Samuel 11 & 12 (David commits adultery with Bathsheba)

The Holy Spirit is the most important person to the born again believer. Whether it's a personal quest to grow spiritually, or  a quality one looks for in their prospective marriage partner,  it's important to understand who a spiritual Christian is. Who do you call a spiritual Christian?

As a Christian, what would be my answer to a stranger who stops me to politely ask, "who is Jesus?". My answer to this question would reveal my level of devotion, and an understanding of my faith in Christ. This is not a question that merely calls for intellectual discourse and debates, no. It is one that calls for truth, as I have encountered, by faith in the grace of Christ through His word. It is one that seeks to draw from the bowels my participation in the new covenant and divine life with Christ, in the power of His Holy Spirit. Who is Jesus, as I have beheld Him by the Word, and by the Spirit? It's a question I endeavor to answer every morning, yet I go to bed at night still pondering in my spirit with a deeper quest.