A Prepared Bride 5 – Introduction Part 1

Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"

Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Matt 22:34-40 NIV


Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. Deut 6:4-5 NIV

Of the four walls that make up the city of God the New Jerusalem, the first that I would like to give attention to is worship – living a life where every word, every thought, every action is a demonstration of our love for our Almighty God.

Even before that, however, a word about walls. The illustration of walls and the description of the walls in Revelation 21 are not meant to be used to exclude anyone nor is it meant to isolate the church from the world. We are called to be in the world but not of the world. Jesus prayed this prayer for us.

“I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.” John 17:14-19 NIV

We have been sent into the world but are protected from it. If Jesus prayed it, it is so! We are to be insolated against the enemy’s influence not isolated from the world. Jesus hung out with an unsavory crowd.

While Jesus was having dinner at Levi's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the "sinners" and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: "Why does he eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?"

On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." Mark 2:15-17 NIV

If we have no friends or even acquaintances that are not saved, we have isolated ourselves and are not following Jesus’ example.

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" Rom 10:14-15 NIV

The lost cannot hear the Good News unless someone tells them and no one can tell them unless they go!

We lived in Memphis, TN for 9 years – the birthplace of the blues, the home of Elvis Presley. There is a street called Beale Street downtown. For the most part, it is several blocks of bars featuring live music. To have an establishment on Beale Street, you have to have live music. There is Elvis Presley’s Memphis. B.B. King has a place there, as well as the sister of Jerry Lee Lewis. There is even a Hard Rock Café.

Through the years, many Christians have felt “the need” to preach to these sinners. They will carry crosses up and down the street or pass out tracts. There was one fellow who duct taped a megaphone to a parking meter two block away and “preached” at the sinners on Beale Street, screaming at them that they were going to hell.

Though I admire their zeal, I challenge their methods. My Bible tells me that the folks in the world are already condemned. ( Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. John 3:18 NIV) Which best represents how Jesus would deal with Beale street and the lost whom He loves – standing two blocks away and screaming condemnation, passing out tracts without once making eye contact or conversation or hanging out on a bench or, God forbid, in a club, praying for God’s guidance, listening to the voice of the Spirit and conversing with a lost soul, letting your words be words of life to him?

Jesus condemned the establishment, the religious and the hypocrites of His day who so encumbered His people with unnecessary rules and regulations, traditions and forms of godliness that they were without hope. (Sound like anybody you know?) He came to bring freedom, freedom from eternal death – separation from God’s mercy, freedom from religion – man’s manipulation of his relationship with God, and freedom from condemnation – man and the enemy’s constant reminding of failures and sin.

Jesus was and is a friend of sinner (Matt 11:19) Are you?