Why I left the building when I realized we are the Church!

A few years ago, the LORD gave me this dream:

The setting was my home and we were in the middle of having a huge party with lots of guests.

I knew everyone in the dream (although when I awoke, didn't really know them all) but in my dream I knew everyone, after all they were all in my house.

We were all talking and having a good time, when a friend asked me if I had met a girl named _________________ (I don't recall her name).

I said "No, but I would like to welcome her into our home and to the party."

In my dream, the weird part was, I knew everyone in the house but not her!

So, I go with my friend and to my surprise, he brings me to a young girl, maybe 13 years of age, sitting in the back room. I then extend my hand to shake hands with her to welcome her to our home and party.

She was dressed in an over sized wedding dress that hung on her. And she wouldn't shake my hand (pulling hers away). She didn't say much, kind of like some young teenagers when they meet strangers, they answer in one word soft, hushed answers only, they don't really communicate.

She looked awkward, clumsy and 'out of place' at this party.

After that I woke up.

It took time, but the LORD showed me that this girl was the church - the bride.
HE is coming back for a woman and HE is seeing only a girl want-to-be bride.

A girl playing house.

She lacked grace trying to play the part without being grown up and being the part.

She didn't fit in with all the people around me (there were saved and un-saved at my party). She was alone - un reaching and unreachable.

Like the teenager that wants to have the 'freedom' (or so called freedom) of an adult without paying the dues, and maturing over time into what you were called to be.

As a married guy, I think men are looking for a bride that loves them, that keeps in step with them, that knows what (husband) is thinking and they act as a team working together. Someone that HE can't wait to be with because LOVE is complete with the sum of both parts.

That is the Bride - JESUS wants.

That was a few years ago, and now we do 'home fellowship' with lots of food and sharing - loads of fun and growth.

I am more convinced then ever, that HE wants HIS bride!
What man doesn't?

Lying - is it always sin?

All lying just like all anger isn't sin.

But how do we know, when is it a sin and when is it not?

Now Rahab the prostitute in Joshua 2 lied to her government (and could have been killed) if you read the first few verses of Joshua 2.

She blantanly lies to government police (or what we would consider 'official' people).

Yet she is lifted up and praised in Hebrews 11:31 and a great great grandmother of JESUS
see Matthew 1:5 (also see James 2:25).

Rahab was hiding spies.

We have all known about Corrie Ten Boon and her family hiding Jews during those terrible, evil, dark days of Hitler.

Sin only becomes what it is (like in lying) if its not for the 'well being' of the other person.
Love always protects (1 Corinthians 13).

A mother with her baby in arms wouldn't let a kidnapper take her child from her, she would probably fight to death to protect her little one. Is that sin? or Love?

Because it can only be 1 or the other.

JESUS got angry some times (moneychangers, Pharisees)

And scripture many times calls anger a sin!
See 2 Corinthians 12:20
also Ephesians 4:31 and Colossians 3:8

How do we know?

We tell our 2 boys that 99% of the time anger and lying is sin, because all it does is try to defend self or better put, defend the sin nature (the "I") in me.

If you are defending GOD or saving people (out of love) then its not sin to lie.
The lie must be spoken in love (what is best - not for me, but for the other person).

Interesting side note, one scripture says :
Ephesians 4:26
"In your anger do not sin" : Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry"

So its possible to have 'righteous anger' or 'right anger' and I think we see that from time to time especially over in-justices in the world - gets us angry.

Or someone controlling, manipulating someone - could cause us anger.

Why?

Its not the best for that individual - its not love.

Same with a lie. How does it better the situation if I speak it? How will it build you up, or encourage or bless you? That is the question!

Love covers a multitude of sins! 1 Peter 4:8


-Eric