23/07/11

Preparing ourselves as virgins for our one Husband

2 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 word jealous used by Paul is also translated as zealous and its source in Hebrew describes it as a mother's possessiveness over her children.

Paul has such an extreme emotion over his congregation on just one matter and that matter is to prepare them as a chaste virgin to Christ. When he used the term virgin it does not refer to the sexual status of a person not been sexually active with another person.

Initially when I started reading the Bible and read scriptures which seem to show God's preference to people who did not have any sexual relationship, I was quite depressed. I thought had I known this long before I may have made that sacrifice for the Lord but I was wrong in that understanding. It was when the Lord blessed me with the wisdom to understand scriptures then I realized the virgin matter did not have anything to do with sexual status nor with being an unbeliever before.

Married or not married we can still be virgins for Christ. Those who are not married have a plus of being totally dedicated to Christ but if they have problem with overcoming their sexual desires then it is worst for them.

The Greek word 'parthenos' translated as virgin is used for a person sexually inactive and also for a person eligible for marriage.

The term Paul used here and most scriptures talk of is the spiritual readiness which we need to be in before the coming of Christ. Like a bride gets dressed with fine clothes and decorates herself with fine jewellery before meeting her bridegroom we too need to do the same with spiritually. Spiritual beauty includes things like Fruits of the Holy Spirit and Gifts of the Holy Spirit used for the glory of God.

Jesus Christ is the first of Zion and only man who remained Son of God even unto death, not getting defiled in any way. Without going into details of Heavenly factors He also is the only perfect Son in Heaven among all the Angels who are also called Sons of God. Even though He humbled Himself He still remained perfect and His victory has made way for us along with the Angels to become one in Him and to also become Sons in perfection.

This preparation is also not simple as just believing in Jesus Christ, or being good, or doing work for God even like bring thousands and millions to believe in Jesus Christ. It is a great challenge which is more internal then to do with outward or with others; it requires us to overcome our flesh and to grow the various Fruits of the Holy Spirit in us. The Bible records as only a limited number of us in the whole of creations who succeed in becoming spiritual virgins and they have a very special place in Heaven and they also are those who have authority in Christ and among the first to resurrect in Christ.

We need to ask ourselves if we aim to become one among them and the great secret I like to share with you, which even Paul did not share openly but we can see in his life, is by trying to make others one among them we land better changes of becoming one. Because by trying to get others to build the Fruits of the Holy Spirit we land up growing in them.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord, we thank You for showing us in yourself how by becoming a servant You become everlasting King. Help us to become Israel (Princes of God) forever by first becoming servants unto your Kingdom. Help us to become spiritual virgins, standing pure in spirit not defiled by evil and weakness of the flesh. Help us to overcome and be among those who are among the first to resurrect in You...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scriptures ]
Read Psalms 45 (it is totally symbolic like Songs of Solomon / Songs of Songs)

Amos 8:11-14
11 "Behold, the days are coming," says the Lord GOD, "That I will send a famine on the land, Not a famine of bread, Nor a thirst for water, But of hearing the words of the LORD.
12 They shall wander from sea to sea, And from north to east; They shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the LORD, But shall not find it.
13 "In that day the fair virgins And strong young men Shall faint from thirst.
14 Those who swear by the sin of Samaria, Who say, 'As your god lives, O Dan!' And, 'As the way of Beersheba lives!' They shall fall and never rise again."

Matthew 24:21-24
21 "For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.
22 "And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened.
23 "Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'There!' do not believe it.
24 "For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.

Revelation 14:1-5
1 Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father's name written on their foreheads.
2 And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps.
3 They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth.
4 These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.
5 And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God.

Revelation 20:4-6
4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
5 But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27
24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.
25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.
26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air.
27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

The Word of God was given free to us, therefore we should also share it freely with others. (All rights are with God)