GOD’S LOVE STORY

 

1.   God’s Love Plan

Since the garden in Eden, God’s plan has been to” have a bride”.

Scriptures record God establishing LOVE COVENANTS with mankind in order                         to have “intimate fellowship” with those made in His image and likeness.

IT IS ALL TO DO WITH HIS GREAT LOVE AND A MARRIAGE/    WEDDING TO HIS BRIDE!

 

2.      The Custom Of Ancient Hebrews

A)    The Father would choose the bride for his son and his son would pay a dowry (price) for his chosen bride.

B)     The two families would come together, “discuss and develop a marriage contract.”

The bridegroom would present it to the bride and she needed to respond. (Today: “I Do”) Then the bridegroom and bride became engaged. (If either party broke the agreement (covenant), the marriage could be considered null or void. Divorce would follow. (e.g. Joseph’s engagement to Mary, his wanting to divorce her. Matt. 1:18-19)

In Summary:

*Develop a marriage contract (covenant) and conditions.

*Present the proposal to both parties to agree.

(2 Parts of Marriage)

*Engagement period (a flexible time – where the groom goes away)

*Actual marriage – the bride and groom stand under the white canopy (Hebrew “chuppah”) at the wedding altar.

 

3.      God’s Proposal to Israel

In Exodus 20 God was about to propose to Israel. You don’t propose to someone you do not love already!

      HE LOVED THEM, SO HE PROPOSED!

      He now presents the marriage covenant and conditions to Israel,” His Bride”.

NOTE: THE 10 COMMANDMENTS WERE NOT THE CONDITIONS TO GAIN GOD’S LOVE AND FAVOR – HE ALREADY LOVED THEM.

In Exodus 20: 3-6 God said, “You shall have no other gods besides Me…”

            I AM TO BE NO. 1 – YOUR ONLY TRUE LOVE. SAY GOODBYE TO OLD    LOVES FOREVER. If we are going to be married, no more carrying photos of old boyfriends or their phone numbers anymore!

 

V. 7 said, “Do not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.”

TO PUT OR PLACE HIS NAME ON SOMETHING HE DID NOT SAY.

(e.g. “Thus says the Lord”)

 

V. 8 said, “Keep the Sabbath Holy” – this was more than law. If we marry, then on that “special day”, it is going to be just you and Me sweetheart. It is our personal, intimate time together. PILLOW TALK.

 

VERSES 12 – 17 are further covenant conditions.

Amos 3:3 said “Can two people walk together unless they are agreed?”

God’s marriage proposal was: I LOVE YOU. WILL YOU MARRY ME? WILL  YOU HONOR AND OBEY ME?

 

4.   The Marriage Scene   (Powerpoint)

*The marriage proposal – 10 commandments

      *Sinai Mount – at its base

      *50 Days after leaving Egypt

      *Cloud overhead – the wedding canopy

      *Lightning / Fire

      *Voices / Languages – Thunder (Heb. word “kole” - a thundering voice)

      *Rejection

NOTE: Israel rejected God’s marriage covenant by not responding back to God  directly. (Exodus 20: 19 – “Moses, you speak to God on our behalf…”)

 

5.   God’s Great Love and Commitment

BECAUSE OF HIS GREAT LOVE AND COMMITMENT TO THEM, IN SPITE    OF ISRAEL’S REJECTION, HE CONTINUED TO BE MARRIED TO THEM AND WOO THEM. However, He distanced Himself and relegated His presence to behind a veil in a tent and later a temple for another +/- 1,500 years and the intimacy was lost.

 

NOTE: The marriage covenant and conditions were PERFECT, but because of   disobedience and unfaithfulness He had plans to marry another bride. He divorced Israel (Jeremiah 3: 8) and promised He would provide a new marriage covenant in Jeremiah 31: 31 – 34.

 

6.   Now It Is Time for God to Marry His Bride (Powerpoint)

      *The marriage proposal was presented – The Beatitudes (Matthew chapters 6-8)

      *The place - Temple Mount

      *50 days after Jesus’ resurrection – Pentecost

      *Holy Spirit came down (cloud) – Loud Noise

      *Fire over their heads

      *Voices / Languages – Filled with the Holy Spirit

* Acceptance – the major difference from Israel - The saints responded back to the Bridegroom, personally accepted the wedding proposal and the Bride of Christ came forth!

In Ephesians 1: 13 – 14 Jesus sent His Best Man-the Holy Spirit- to seal us as His own true love. THIS IS OUR “ENGAGEMENT RING” promising that our Bridegroom is returning to consummate the marriage!

Our Heavenly Father chose us in His Son, and His Son “paid the price” for His Bride with His own blood upon the cross. Each of us has been “sought out” and “bought out” and invited to become the Bride of Christ by accepting Jesus as our Savior.

Ephesians 1: 4 -“just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world.”

Isaiah 62: 5 - “and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so your God will rejoice over you!”

 

The scriptures “start” with the 1st Adam looking for a Bride in a beautiful garden, and “end” with the Last Adam (Jesus) having found His Bride and they LIVE HAPPILY EVER AFTER!

 

The Voice of the Bridegroom calls:

Rev. 22: 17 – “and the Spirit and the Bride say “Come” and let everyone who hears say “Come” and let the one who is thirsty come, let the one who wishes to take of the water of life without cost.”

Matt. 11: 28-29 – “…My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

THE YOKE OF A TEACHER WAS HIS TEACHINGS/DOCTRINE. JESUS WAS    SAYING THAT WHEN WE HEAR, OBEY AND ARE FAITHFUL TO HIS MARRIAGE COVENANT, IT GOES WELL WITH OUR SOULS!