Who is the Church?

What does Apostle Paul have to say about the Church?
NKJV - II Corinthians 11:2 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.

The Message - II Corinthians 11:2 The thing that has me so upset is that I care about you so much - this is the passion of God burning inside me! I promised your hand in marriage to Christ, presented you as a pure virgin to her husband. (I don't really like the Message Bible but it did a great job with this Scripture)

Who is the Shulamite?

I have a challenge for  you today.  I would like for you to change your mindset and stop thinking of Church in the normal sense.  You know, the place where you go to sing a little, hear some good preaching, get your shout on and go home. Now before you get offended, I want you to understand that I'm not saying there is anything wrong with going to Church and getting your praise on.  What I am saying is it is far more to our walk than that.  Church (as the body of Christ) it is time for us to elevate our mindset and start thinking beyond the world's view of the meaning of Church.  Press beyond the norm and start thinking about the reason why God would sent His First begotten Son as the ultimate sacrificial lamb.  Why would He do that and what should we be doing because of it?  I'm going to give you a hint.  It's all about reconciliation, redemption and restoration.  The question is, "reconciliation, redemption and restoration to what?"

For as the heavens are higher than the earth!

Isa 55:9  "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. 10  "For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater, 11  So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. 12  "For you shall go out with joy, And be led out with peace; The mountains and the hills Shall break forth into singing before you, And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. 13  Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree, And instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree; And it shall be to the Lord for a name, For an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off." 

For as the heavens are high above the earth!

Psa 103:11  For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; 12  As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. 13  As a father pities his children, So the Lord pities those who fear Him. 14  For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust. 15  As for man, his days are like grass; As a flower of the field, so he flourishes. 16  For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, And its place remembers it no more. 17  But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting On those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children's children, 18 To such as keep His covenant, And to those who remember His commandments to do them. 19  The Lord has established His throne in heaven, And His kingdom rules over all. 20  Bless the Lord, you His angels, Who excel in strength, who do His word, Heeding the voice of His word. 21  Bless the Lord, all you His hosts, You ministers of His, who do His pleasure. 22  Bless the Lord, all His works, In all places of His dominion. Bless the Lord, O my soul!

Take the time!

Take the time and think!

Have you ever just found a quiet place and did nothing except think about God?  If not, I encourage you to take the time and do so.  Take the time and think about how large He is, so large that He cannot be contained; yet, we know that His throne resides in the sides of the north.  Take the time and think about how ancient He is; He does not dwell in time and eternity, but rather, time and eternity dwells in Him.  Take the time and think about how righteous He is; He is so right and correct in all that He does and says; no wrong can exist in Him, period!  Take the time and think about how holy He is; He is so pure and holy that nothing unclean can come near Him, let alone dwell in Him; yet He loved us so much that He sent His son to make a way for us to be with Him.  Take the time and think about how He is the judge of all, incapable of making any error whatsoever.  He judges correctly each and every time, even if we don’t realize it.  His ways and His thoughts are FAR ABOVE our ways and our thoughts.  Take the time and THINK ABOUT HIM!