1. Pictures of the Church

2. Key Point #1: Church is primarily who we are in relation to Him. Pictures of the Church

3. Key Point #2: We then relate to one another and to the world out of our relation to Him. Pictures of the Church

4. Part 2: The Bride

5. God pictures His relationship with His people, as that of a Groom to His Bride. Pictures of the Church The Bride

6. Jeremiah 2:2,3 I remember kindness The love 2 "Go and cry in the hearing of Jerusalem, saying, 'Thus says the LORD: "I remember you, The kindness of your youth, The love of your betrothal, When you went after Me in the wilderness, In a land not sown. 3 Israel was holiness to the LORD, The firstfruits of His increase. All that devour him will offend; Disaster will come upon them," says the LORD.' " Pictures of the Church The Bride

7. Jeremiah 3:14 I am married to you "Return, O backsliding children," says the LORD; "for I am married to you. I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion. Pictures of the Church The Bride

8. Jeremiah 31:3,4 an everlasting love lovingkindness 3 The LORD has appeared of old to me, saying: "Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you. I will build youO virgin of Israel! be adorned the dances 4 Again I will build you, and you shall be rebuilt, O virgin of Israel! You shall again be adorned with your tambourines, And shall go forth in the dances of those who rejoice. Pictures of the Church The Bride

9. Jeremiah 31:32 I was a husband to them 32 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the LORD. Pictures of the Church The Bride

10. Hosea 2:16,17 you will call Me 'My Husband,' 16 "And it shall be, in that day," Says the LORD, "That you will call Me 'My Husband,' And no longer call Me 'My Master,' 17 For I will take from her mouth the names of the Baals, And they shall be remembered by their name no more. Pictures of the Church The Bride

11. Hosea 2:19,20 betroth you to Me forever righteousnessjusticelovingkindness mercy 19 "I will betroth you to Me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to Me In righteousness and justice, In lovingkindness and mercy; faithfulnessyou shall know the LORD 20 I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness, And you shall know the LORD. Pictures of the Church The Bride

12. Isaiah 54:4-6 4 Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; Neither be disgraced, for you will not be put to shame; For you will forget the shame of your youth, And will not remember the reproach of your widowhood anymore. your Maker is your husband 5 For your Maker is your husband, The LORD of hosts is His name; And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; He is called the God of the whole earth. Pictures of the Church The Bride

13. Isaiah 54:4-6 Like a woman forsaken Like a youthful wife 6 For the LORD has called you Like a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, Like a youthful wife when you were refused," Says your God. great mercies 7 "For a mere moment I have forsaken you, But with great mercies I will gather you. Pictures of the Church The Bride

14. Isaiah 54:4-6 everlasting kindness mercy 8 With a little wrath I hid My face from you for a moment; But with everlasting kindness I will have mercy on you," Says the LORD, your Redeemer. Pictures of the Church The Bride

15. Isaiah 62:4-7 HephzibahBeulah 4 You shall no longer be termed Forsaken, Nor shall your land any more be termed Desolate; But you shall be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; For the LORD delights in you, And your land shall be married. as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, So shall your God rejoice over you 5 For as a young man marries a virgin, So shall your sons marry you; And as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, So shall your God rejoice over you. Pictures of the Church The Bride

16. Isaiah 62:4-7 watchmen 6 I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; They shall never hold their peace day or night. You who make mention of the LORD, do not keep silent, 7 And give Him no rest till He establishes And till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth. Pictures of the Church The Bride

17. The ministry of intercession for God's people flows out of knowing that God's people are His delight, are His Bride and that God rejoices over His people. Pictures of the Church The Bride

18. The Parable of the Ten Virgins Matthew 25:1-13 Pictures of the Church The Bride

19. The Church is to await His coming in a state of preparedness, readiness, expectation and endurance. Pictures of the Church The Bride

20. 2 Corinthians 11:2 betrothed you to one husband chaste virgin For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. Pictures of the Church The Bride

21. All ministry we do, must be coupled with the understanding that we are preparing a Bride for the Lord Jesus, the Bridegroom God. He is wooing His Bride unto Himself with tender love and affection, drawing Her to a place of intimacy. Pictures of the Church The Bride

22. A Glorious Church Ephesians 5:22-32 Pictures of the Church The Bride

23. Revelation 19:6-9 6 And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, "Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! the marriage of the Lamb 7 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." Pictures of the Church The Bride

24. Revelation 19:6-9 fine linen, clean and bright 8 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. the marriage supper of the Lamb!' 9 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." Pictures of the Church The Bride

25. Revelation 22:17 the Spirit and the bride And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" Pictures of the Church The Bride

26. As the Bride, we must be in alignment and unity with the Spirit - hearing, saying, doing - what He desires, as He works in us, among us, through us, to prepare us for the Bridegroom God, Jesus Christ. Pictures of the Church The Bride

27. Summary: 1, The Bride is lost in her love, admiration, commitment to her Groom Pictures of the Church The Bride

28. Summary: 2, The Bride adorns herself in what would please her Groom so that she can present herself in her best for the Groom. Pictures of the Church The Bride

29. Summary: 3, The Bride is the recipient of the Grooms unconditional love Pictures of the Church The Bride

30. Summary: 4, The Bride has access to the Groom's heart - a place of intimacy Pictures of the Church The Bride

31. Summary: 5, The Bride keeps herself for the Groom. She does not settle for any other man. Pictures of the Church The Bride

32. Summary: 6, We are called to be like a Bride getting ready for her marriage to the Groom. She waits expectantly. Pictures of the Church The Bride

33. Summary: 7, When we serve the Body of Christ, we are serving the Bride of Christ - a people whom God loves unconditionally, a people in whom He delights as His Bride, a people whom He is married to. All ministry, including intercession, must flow out of this understanding. Pictures of the Church The Bride