INVITATIONS SENT?  RSVP? BRIDE READY?  

by Tammy Phillips
August 2, 2020

Lately, I have said repeatedly that I am so ready for Jesus to come…as long as everyone I knew was ready.  I wondered to myself, “How could we help speed up the groom, Jesus’ return?”  Ha, ha, ha, like it has anything to do with us, actually, it does.

How excited do you think God is to meet the bride of Christ face to face?  He loves us so much that everyone is invited to the wedding, but all have not received the invitation.  This is where we come in.

“Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and [then] comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! – John 4:35 NKJV

The harvest are the individuals who are ripe to hear about Jesus.  People are waiting on their invitations to come to Christ, but we have to invite them.  You realize we are both Bride and guest?

Then He said to them, “The harvest truly [is] great, but the laborers [are] few; therefore, pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. – Luke 10:2 NKJV 

As we invite others to come into relationship with Jesus, we also pray to the Lord, to send out more laborers to help get the invitations out.  Many know about the wedding but are not helping get out the invites.   It is a pretty big job.  I mean, currently, we are going on 2000 years to get the invites out.  Our hearts should be the heart of God.  We should want all to celebrate with us.  The invites should read…

And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely. – Revelation 22:17 NKJV

Simultaneously, we need to get the call out and to prepare ourselves, as the bride to meet the Groom.

Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. – Ephesians 5:25-27 NKJV

As a bride prepares every detail for her perfect wedding, we should ready ourselves with great expectation to be that bride for Christ. This is easily completed. Read the Bible, His love letters to us, and do what He asks us to do.   Just like a bride patiently awaits the day of His return… 

“Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed [are] those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ ” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.” – Revelation 19:7-9 NKJV

Then we wait for the appearance of the groom…

Therefore, be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See [how] the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.  You also be patient.  Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. – James 5:8 NKJV

James instructs us twice, be patient.  The Greek word for patience in this verse is makrothymeo.  It means do not lose heart.  Persevere bravely in misfortunes and troubles.  Be long suffering, slow to anger, and not easily offended.  He also advises us to “Establish your hearts.” Establish is the Greek word, stērizō, meaning to turn resolutely in one direction, Christ’s.  Have a RESOLUTE heart.

Repeatedly in scripture, the Lord says He is coming quickly.  Do not be caught off guard like we were with the Corona Virus.  Our response should be: “We are ready, come!’

He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! – Revelation 22:20 NKJV

I enCOURAGE you to send out your invites.  Persuade the invited guests to RSVP.  It’s a party they do not want to miss.  Bride, make yourself ready to meet your Groom.

Then we who are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus, we shall always be with the Lord. – 1 Thessalonians 4:17 NKJV