Tag: prayer

The Bride of Christ

~ Randy Harris ~ Leave a comment

Today I would like to speak about the Bride of Christ as opposed to the Body of Christ.  I will attempt to explain my reasoning why I believe that they are two distinctly different entities of the Church.  The Body of Christ consists of all who have confessed Christ as their savior.  The Bride of Christ are the ekklesia or the sold out bond-servants of Christ.   Let me explain.

I do not believe there are different levels of Christianity.  Some worship Christ for salvation only, and still enjoy  worldly desires.  They may even be oppressed in mind or have certain desire or lust they are trying, but unfortunately not able to completely overcome.  They settle for a good Christian life, but with fleshy struggles.  Their Bible study and prayer is sporadic and their discipleship is non- existent.  The growth track they are on keeps their desire in the milk of the Word, not meat.  They have not exercised their learning beyond the simplistic doctrines of the Church.  They live in the elementary aspects of basic Christianity.  To grow in Christ, find a mentor, get into a good Bible Study, find someone you trust to be a battle buddy to share and pray with.  Most importantly read the Word!  Neglecting the Word is neglecting Jesus. (John 1:1)  Remember Jesus was not a man that became the Word, but the eternal Word who took on flesh and became a man.  (Philippians 2:5-11)  Fully God and fully man.

In Matthew 25 we have a parable of the wise and foolish virgins. The wise virgins are a type of the true Bride of Christ.  They have a full supply of oil (Holy Spirit) and are ever watching for the Messiah to come back.  May I ask, are you full of the Spirit, and longing to be filled every day? Their desire is to follow and please the Lord Jesus.  They are aware of the time we live in, meditating on Christ and praying even if it is just a few minutes several times throughout the day.  Following Paul’s admonition to pray without ceasing. The constant desire of  bond-servants of God is to be pleasing to Christ and walk in submission to the  Holy Spirit.  They aren’t perfect, but they long to be transformed into the very image of Christ, “partakers in the divine nature of God”.  (2 Peter 1:2-3),

The church is to be, sanctified, cleansed and presented to Christ without spot or blemish. (Ephesians 5:26-27)

A glorious church. 

There are two priorities of the Bride, the Word and the Spirit.  Worshiping in Spirit and Truth. (John 4:24)  Live in the Word, and walk in His Spirit!

 The Spirit and the Bride say “Come!” (Revelation 22:17)

 You were born for such a time as this.  Be strong and courageous for God chose us for this particular time.  If He chose us, He will sustain us!

Maranatha – Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus.  Amen!  Rh

WHO Chief: Nations Must ‘Counteract Conservative Opposition’ to Abortion, Promote Transgenderism. Ben Johnson

~ Randy Harris ~ Leave a comment

A global government body has told nations it is “imperative” that they “counteract conservative opposition” and “enact progressive laws” that legalize prostitution and intentionally infect people with AIDS. At the same time, the international body has indicated it plans to roll out guidelines normalizing transgender cross-sex hormone injections worldwide.

The World Health Organization (WHO) ushered in 2024 with a bulletin titled “Advancing the ‘sexual’ in sexual and reproductive health and rights: a global health, gender equality and human rights imperative,” co-written by WHO’s director-general, Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, a former associate of Ethiopia’s repressive Marxist government.

“Political leaders at all levels must champion sexual health as part of sexual and reproductive health to counteract conservative opposition,” states the WHO Bulletin released on January 1. “Policy-makers must enact progressive laws and policies to expand access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services,” it says.

“Countries must repeal laws that criminalize homosexuality, sex work and HIV transmission,” the bulletin advises. Ghebreyesus calls on world leaders to “foster societies where all people can experience their sexuality safely, positively,” couching the advancement of the Sexual Revolution as a moral imperative.

IMO – Just remember folks this is the group under the United Nations that could well be in charge of world health policies in a few months. Even here in the states our pretend president has signed over American sovereignty to WHO. (At least for the time being.). The WHO is already speculating on a new virus call “X” that will kill millions. Interesting that they already know it is coming. Can anyone say “plandemic #2.” We are in the midst of the biggest world takeover of Marxist and Globalist since the beginning of time. Pray and resist evil!! Rh

Joel – A Prescription for Revival

~ Randy Harris ~ Leave a comment

Below is a short devotion in outline form for the need and the steps that God proclaimed to the prophet Joel to bring revival to the land. Anyone can plainly see America is on the brink. We need morality and Godliness in our nation. God is so merciful to hear and forgive out sins. Please take a moment to read and pray through the devotion. Remember mercy is not getting what we deserve. 

    A Call To Repentance (Joel 1:13-15)

Warning

a. Gird yourselves and lament, you priests: Joel called the religious leaders to lead the nation in repentance. He told the priests to gird yourselves for repentance, the idea being “prepare to do the work of repentance.”

i. Joel also told them how to do the work of repentance.

· Consecrate a fast: Make getting right with God so important that even eating isn’t significant.

· Call a sacred assembly: Call for God’s people to come together and repent.

· Gather the elders: Bring the elders together to lead in this act of repentance.

· Into the house of the LORD your God: Come to the place where you should meet together with God.

· And cry out to the LORD: Finally, simply cry out to God and trust that He will respond in mercy.

Joel 2:12-17

Action

a. Now, therefore…turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning: Because they heard the warning of judgment, God’s people should repent. It doesn’t make their repentance less valid because they had to be scared into it. The important thing is that they turn back to the LORD in sincerity, and God tells them how.

i. Sincere repentance is to turn to God, and therefore away from our sin.

ii. Sincere repentance is done with all your heart, giving everything you can in surrender to God.

iii. Sincere repentance is marked by action (with fasting) and emotion (with weeping…mourning). Not every act of repentance will include fasting and weeping, but if action and emotion are absent, it isn’t real repentance.

Rend your heart, and not your garments: One expression of mourning in Jewish culture was, and is, the tearing of the clothes. It was a way to say, “I am so overcome with grief that I don’t care if my clothes are ruined and I look bad.” Joel knew that someone could tear their garments without tearing their heart, and he described the kind of heart-repentance that really pleases God.

Spare Your people, O LORD, and do not give Your heritage to reproach: Joel puts a rich prayer of repentance into the mouths of God’s priests. It’s as if the priests should pray with the thought, “How can we persuade God to have mercy on us?”

i. Spare: This implies that God’s people deserve judgment, but they plead for mercy.

ii. Your people: This reminds God that they belong to Him and provides another motivation for mercy.

iii. Do not give Your heritage to reproach: This tells God that mercy to His people will bring Him glory among the nations and that judgment may bring His name into discredit.

Joel 2:28-32

Result

It shall come to pass afterward: After the restoration Joel spoke of previously in the chapter, there will come a time of ultimate restoration and blessing. This latter time will be marked by an outpouring of God’s Spirit on all flesh – not only selected men at selected times for selected duties. Rh