I asked my daughter Luna to make an image of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, and she carved a print (pictured above). She’s such an over-achiever. I love the details of the table with the wine and the disco ball, the olive branches and the doves, and the party space shaped like an arrow pointing up.

In the traditional Hebrew marriage, you have three stages:

• Betrothal or Engagement Stage — The parents of the bride and bridegroom would make an agreement which included a dowry paid. The agreement was legally binding. During the period of betrothal, the groom prepares the dwelling place where he will bring home his bride. The moment an individual commits himself/herself to the Lord in faith, hope and love, the betrothal or engagement is completed. The dowry has been paid by the blood of Jesus on the cross. His death paid the price. The dwelling place of the bride and the bridegroom is being prepared. Jesus said to His disciples, “My Father’s house has many dwelling places. If it were otherwise, I would tell you plainly, because I go to prepare a place for you. And when everything is ready, I will come back and take you to myself so that you will be where I am.” (John 14:2-3 TPT) These are the departing words of a bridegroom to his bride, “I must go prepare a space for you in my father’s house. When the right time comes and father deems all things ready, I will come and gather you to myself.”
• Torchlight Parade — The second part usually involved the groom coming to the home of the bride at midnight. He and his male friends would arrive with torches to come for his bride and her bridesmaids and take her to the ceremony. This second part, when the Bridegroom comes for His Bride which is the Church, is symbolic of the Rapture — when the Bride will literally be swept off her feet by the Bridegroom and whisked away to the ceremony. This is illustrated in the parable of the ten virgins found in Matthew 25:1-13. No one knows when but it is imminent. Jesus said, “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.” (Matthew 24:37 ESV)
• Ceremony — The third part and most significant stage is the actual ceremony during which vows were exchanged. After the ceremony would come the final meal, the marriage feast, which often took place over several days. What follows is the consummation of the marriage. The wedding at Cana where Jesus turned water into wine offers an example of this (John 2:1-2).

Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure” —for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”
– Revelation 19:7-9

We are now expectantly preparing ourselves for the marriage supper of the Lamb. After Jesus instituted Communion in Luke 22, He said that He would not drink from the fruit of the vine again until the Kingdom of God comes (Luke 22:18). He also said, “and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom” (Luke 22:29-30 ESV).

“For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.
– Luke 22:18-20

Each time we receive Communion, we are to remember that we are to remain faithful, being betrothed to one Husband. During the betrothal period, the couple is already as good as husband and wife. This is the reason why the apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 11:2 that he has betrothed us to one husband, the Lord Jesus Christ. We are engaged to be married to Jesus. He proposed to us during the Last Supper when he said, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.” This covenant was to be made possible by the shedding of Jesus’s blood as the sacrifice for sin. He paid the dowry with His life. Our acceptance of this covenant is dependent on our response to this act. In the act of betrothal, it is a Jewish custom to share a cup of wine together. When we receive Communion, it is a reminder that we are betrothed to one husband, Jesus Christ. We are partakers in the longest engagement period in history! But the timer is ticking and the day is nearly here for our Bridegroom to call us to Himself. DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME!

Join us on Sunday and remember Him with us. Celebrate Him with us. And participate in preparing this beautiful Bride with us.

Also, ladies mark your calendars for More on Monday. The women’s monthly gathering is scheduled for November 29 at 7pm. Join your spiritual sisters as they connect, build relationships, love, laugh and grow closer to God! We want MORE of God!
M – Make room for God
O – Overflow with the power of the Holy Spirit
R – Refresh and Renew
E – Empower and Equip

All women are welcome! The gathering will be at 7010 Chianti Court, Rowlett, TX 75088. If you have questions, please feel free to contact Carolyn Barry at 214-755-1127.

Let’s grow together!
Matt

Matt Neese
Wellspring.Live

DAILY WORD FOR NOVEMBER 10, 2021

Jonah recognized that when he was swallowed by a giant fish, it was God’s mercy. That fish saved him from drowning in the storm of his rebellion against God. You know the story. God told Jonah to be His agent to a violent, wicked people and warn them to turn from their destructive ways. Jonah didn’t want to warn them. He wanted them to suffer and die and get everything that he felt like they deserved. But God wanted to offer an opportunity for them to be saved from what they deserved.

Have you ever been driven by your own anger, unforgiveness, and vindictiveness? Have you ever wanted “justice” so bad that it pulled you to the edge of violence? What a storm these feelings can stir up in your life, and it escalates and escalates and escalates until everyone around you gets caught up in it. In God’s mercy He wraps His arms around you in a restraint, like the belly of a fish. It’s all to give you a minute to stop running and thrashing. Stop hurting yourself. Be still. This is mercy.

“Those who worship false gods turn their backs on all God’s mercies.” The real proof of what you worship is how you respond to God’s mercy. When you finally see it, what do you do with it? Do you release your rage and ask the Lord to heal your trauma? Do you stop cussing and start praising? Do you surrender and finally say: “I’m sorry for belligerently pursuing my self-righteous ways, and I commit myself fully to Your ways as Your agent.” Suddenly the mercy restraint is loosened and you’re sitting on a beach closer to your destination than you thought.

• 11/10 Jonah 2, Isaiah 14, Ezekiel 8, Hebrews 6
• 11/11 Jonah 3, Isaiah 15, Ezekiel 9, Hebrews 7
• 11/12 Jonah 4, Isaiah 16, Ezekiel 10, Hebrews 8
• 11/13 Proverbs 1, Isaiah 17, Ezekiel 11, Hebrews 9
• 11/14 Proverbs 2, Isaiah 18, Ezekiel 12, Hebrews 10:1-23
• 11/15 Proverbs 3, Isaiah 19, Ezekiel 13, Hebrews 10:24-39
• 11/16 Proverbs 4, Isaiah 20, Ezekiel 14, Hebrews 11:1-19
• 11/17 Proverbs 5, Isaiah 21, Ezekiel 15, Hebrews 11:20-40

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