God is coming back for a bride not a date!
Rev. Eric Stillwell
Stand
this is similar to something I have preached before but God is going somewhere different with this...
Read 1TH 4:16-17
1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Pray
God is coming for his bride soon, The Church.
The Rapture
In Christ: I believe Means had a intimate relationship with Christ.
If you do not have a intamate relationship with Christ you will not make the rapture.
Also:
Rom 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
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When you are first introduced to God it is likened to courtship.
If you just met someone - your futre husband or wife
During courtship you would never miss a date to go out with your buddies would you?
Would you miss a date to watch your tv program or go to a ball game?
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During courtship you would be on your best behavior and dress your best,
You would be clean and in your fancy duds!
During courtship you would never Belch, Burp or Fart!!
Why because you are trying to make a good impression on the person you are courting!!
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How do we react around God, or at church?
Do we praise openly or are we too good for God!
Our Father which art in heaven Hallowed be thy name: Means Praise God!!!!
Do you praise God?
HALLELEAUH the highest praise you can give God or simply I LOVE YOU JESUS! and mean it.
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Do you miss church?
What excuse do you give God for not coming to church?
What excuse is good enough to miss a date when you are courting?
How many dates could you miss before the person you where courting would say "It's time for me to go out and find someone else"
"It's time to bless someone else, It's time use someone else instead of you."
We have preachers - teachers - prayer warriors & prophets here tonight!
Will you make it through courtship?
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Praise = is a form of Courtship Do you praise God every chance you can get? Do you praise God when your home, when your in your car, or in your prayer closet (somewhere where knowone sees or hears you except God!)
Studying or reading the word = IS Getting to know God. How much do you know about God?
Have you studied to show yourself approved as the scripture says?
2Ti 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing th word of truth.
Worship = Intimacy
Worship is different than praise. Worship in the hebrew is:
G4352
προσκυνεìω
proskuneo? WORSHIP
pros-koo-neh'-o
From G4314 and probably a derivative of G2965 (meaning to kiss, like a dog licking his master’s hand); to fawn or crouch to, that is, (literally or figuratively) prostrate oneself in homage (do reverence to, adore): - worship.
Do you WORSHIP from your heart, do you get lost in God? Like the unconditional love of a dog licking it's masters hand.
Remember Church God showed us to Get Lost in the Spirit!!
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God doesn't need the Dating Game or a Singles website: He draws us with His spirit
1Pe 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit :
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God also gives us gifts as we become obedient to Him, or the closer we grow to God:
He gives us the gift of the Holy Ghost.
When you court someone in the world or flesh Guys you might of brought flowers, or candy to your date.
Remember theirs no loving intimacy without courtship and dating first!
Theirs no loving intimacy without a commitment.
Lets go steady, then lets get engaged, then lets get married, then with this commitment their is a true loving intimacy. An intimacy that will lead us to repentance ,baptism in Jesus name and the baptism of the holy spirit.
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God is coming for a bride without a spot or blemish. Only by the grace and power of God can we achieve this!!!
2Pe 3:14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
Church I cannot stress how important it is that we must pray more than we ever have, We must fast more than we ever have and Praise louder, bolder and more sincerely than we have ever before!
It can be hard to strive from iniquity and it can be easy to slip up and sin, that is our nature to sin as long as we are in a fleshly body!
Mat 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
"I do not sin!!!"
Until you have made heaven the bible says:
Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Do you judge your brothers or sisters?
Do you talk i'll of your brothers or sisters?
If so I am here today to tell you that you are giving into the DEVIL!!
and it's time to STOP IT!!
HEAVEN OR HELL IT'S YOUR CHOICE!!! I cannot choose for you!
Coming against a child of God:
Luk 17:2 It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.
Do you love your brothers and sisters in christ unconditionally even if they have offended you.
Do not let pety i'll feelings or idol words keep you from heaven.
If someone offends you, you should be willing to give them the shirt off of your back if it will help them make heaven.
You should never give them your middle finger.
You must pray for your enemies, and pray for people who spitefully use you as the scriptures say.
Mat 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Luk 6:28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
Did you ever think that if God wants to, He can BREAK UP WITH YOU!!
OUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rom 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
Who are we to think we are so special that we can sit on our hands during church , and keep our mouths shut never openly praising God?
Who are we that can leave here and not be fishers of men, never witnessing about God's great power and not inviting people to church?
Who are we forgetting repentance and living like the devil when we leave here?
Who are we who thinks that God owes it to us, that we do not need to sacrifice?
Who are we that thinks we can make heaven without tithing our 10% of our time and our firstfruits.
Remember a couple weeks ago the sermon 16.8 hours a week are we giving our minimum to God.
10% of Ten dollars is a dollar
10% of One hundred dollars is $10
and so on!
JUST WHO DO WE THINK WE ARE!!!!!!!!
Do you know that lucifer thought more highly of himself than God and you could say that God divorced lucifer ! he was a beautiful angel, who was very close to God.
Who are we?
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Our God is a jealous God and he wants your all. So let's not give him a reason to be jealous.
Exo 20:5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
Exo 34:14 For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:
You want to be in God's good graces. SO STAY FAITHFUL TO HIM!!!
Don't lie to God,
Don't cheat God or Rob God, for He will know. He knows our very thoughts!
You might be able to fool me or I might let you slide by but GOD WILL NOT!!!
He is firm in His word! If it's in the book then you better live by it!
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God inhabits the praises of His people.
If we do not praise God the rocks will cry out in our place.
I will not let a rock cry out in my place!
I will Praise God!
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Without a intimate relationship with God we might become decieved and fall to the wayside, maybe accepting a lie, or end up in a church that does not preach FULL GOSPEL SALVATION!!
How could this happen?
2Th 2:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
2Th 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
2Th 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
2Th 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
DO YOU LOVE THE TRUTH OF FULL GOSPEL !
Do you stand up for Acts 2:38/Jn 3:5 Salvation?
Repentance, Baptism in Jesus name and infilling of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues.
Recieving the Holy Ghost like first started in Acts 2:1-4
Act 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
Act 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
Act 2:3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
Act 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Some of you may never have truly had a loving or intimate relationship with someone, but today God wants to form a intimate relationship with you,
He will take care of you like knowone else can,
He owns the cattle on a thousand hills,
He created heaven and the earth, he breathed life into our nostrils,
He robed himself in flesh and walked among us,
He died on the cross for our sins and arose so he could go into heaven and send his spirit back to live in our temples(bodies) in order to help us live right and to try and keep us off of the wide path leading to hell.
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When seeking the Holy Ghost, in the bible they had to tarry so We must be patient when it comes to the lord, he is not always instant like a microwave.
Isa 40:31 But they that wait upon the lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
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Do you want to let a rock take your place in heaven as it cries out instead of you?
Luk 19:40 And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.
Or are you going to take your rightful place with the Lord and give praise to God.
I will close with these scriptures and
open the altars for praise or worship,
Wherever your walk with God is now you can either praise, or worship,
Praise being out loud or worship being very intimate and on your knees!
I leave this for you to decide, as I ultimately cannot live for God, FOR YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This you must do for yourself!
Closing scriptures:
Psa 150:1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.
Psa 150:2 Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness
Psa 150:3 Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.
Psa 150:4 Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs
Psa 150:5 Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.
Psa 150:6 Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.
ALTAR OPEN!!!!!!!
All eyes closed!!!!!!!!!