Radiance: Christ’s Church
Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the Word, and to present her to Himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.
Ephesians 5:25-27 (NIV)
Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.
Revelation 19:7-9 (NIV)
Now these are the last Words of David. Thus says David the son of Jesse... 'The Spirit of the Lord spoke by me, and His Word was on my tongue. The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke to me: 'He who rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. And he shall be like the light of the morning when the sun rises, a morning without clouds.'
2 Samuel 23:1-4 (NKJV)
Are we a 'Radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless?'
Surely, ONLY by the Blood of the Lamb. But who's in His church? Is it all Christians? Is it personal?
Jesus said:
'Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My Name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many... False prophets will rise up' (Matthew 24:4,11).
'Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing' (Matthew 24:45-46).
Or as David says, 'He who rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. And he shall be like the light of the morning when the sun rises, a morning without clouds.' To be 'Like the light of the morning when the sun rises, a morning without clouds'...
The church of Christ must have no roof or walls! Otherwise…
How can we illuminate, like the sun?
How can we shine as the light of the world?
How can we enlighten fans and neighbors?
When revealing the right place to worship to the woman at the well, Jesus said:
'Woman, Believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father... But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers' (John 4:21-23).
I am a woman. I believe Jesus. An hour is coming and now is for us to give Him brilliant illumination: To forget church shows and shine like Jesus. To…
'Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give' (Matthew 10:8).
Freely we’ve received the Light of the Lord. But for us to freely give it away, we must unbind churches from roofs and walls, from excess rules, covers, and divisions.
'No one, when he has lit a lamp, puts it in a secret place or under a basket, but on a lampstand' (Luke 11:33), 'That his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God' (John 3:21).
Let’s get simple and shine UNIMPEDED.
Radiance: Christ’s Church (Part 5)
NOTE: This is a 2023 update of a 2013 Carey Lewis Devotion. You may see notes to 'Actors, Models & Talent for Christ.' If you think you're not in show business, think again. Shakespeare said, 'All the world's a stage and all its men and women merely players. Mostly true. But you're not merely players. You are messengers and ambassadors for the King of kings.