Shulamite Ministries

“If you want to be something in the world, you will be nothing in the kingdom.” — Martha Kilpatrick (Knowing God: Eternal Power)

Article 24 of 27 in the Series...

The Bride Is Ready
The Bride Is Ready
Author: Martha Kilpatrick

A grave deception lies dormant like a sleeping sickness in the theology of the
church . . . an error with eternal consequences and unutterable loss. The error is this: that all believers, all born again Christians will be at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. Christ's own words refute this. The Bride of Christ must meet specific requirements. His parables make such clear illustration of this, it is a marvel there can be such a serious mistaking of His teaching. Salvation is ever free. A gift. Unmerited and unearned by any effort or will. There is no work to be born again, only that of the work of Christ . . . but the Bride, that is another matter.

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Friend of the Bridegroom

Author: Martha Kilpatrick  2 November 2002

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The disciples saw Jesus as Conqueror of Rome. Herod feared Him as King of Israel. The high priests envied Him as Favorite of the People, only John the Baptist called Him . . . the Bridegroom. In all the New Testament, there is only one who names Him this . . . John, the wild prophet. He who has the bride is the bridegroom, but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. John 3:29-30 NAS This final prophet of Old Testament type, served Christ, the Bridegroom, in unique understanding of His search and desire for a worthy Bride. John "stood" in abiding commitment ... read remainder of article

The disciples saw Jesus as Conqueror of Rome.
Herod feared Him as King of Israel.
The high priests envied Him as Favorite of the People,
only John the Baptist called Him . . .
the Bridegroom.

In all the New Testament, there is only one who
names Him this . . . John, the wild prophet.

He who has the bride is the bridegroom, but
the friend of the bridegroom,
who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly
because of the bridegroom's voice.
Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled.

John 3:29-30 NAS

This final prophet of Old Testament type,
served Christ, the Bridegroom, in unique understanding
of His search and desire for a worthy Bride.


John "stood" in abiding commitment to the Bridegroom.
John "heard" with deep comprehension,
the loneliness of the Bridegroom.
John "spoke" in the power of
his passion for Another's passion.

His voice and his message washed the sin-veil from the
eyes of the bride so she could see her
Bridegroom when He passed by.

And John took the selfless place as
friend of the Bridegroom.

Friend: whose entire life-joy was the
gladness of the Bridegroom,
whose goal was not his own alliance of love,
nor his own link to Jesus
but the purpose of Jesus' deepest heart,
that of gaining a Bride.

Many are those in self-centered service
for their idea of Christ's need.
Few are the friends of the Bridegroom
who by profound understanding of His purpose
want only His satisfaction
by the disregard of their own.

This then is my pleasure and joy,
and it is now complete.

John 3:29 Amplified Bible

The Love Search and the Patient Pursuit by
this Son of God for His redeemed Adam-Eve,
was John's utter experience of joy.
His personal fulfillment
rested on the Bridegroom's fulfillment.

For that John lived, and for that he died.

 

Copyright © 2002 Martha Kilpatrick 

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Other Articles In This Series (Table of Contents)

1
The Prelude
1 October 2001  Author: Martha Kilpatrick
A grave deception lies dormant like a sleeping sickness in the theology of the church . . . an error with eternal...continue reading
2
Finding a Bride
2 October 2001  Author: Martha Kilpatrick
Genesis 2:18 NKJV And the Lord God said, "It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper...continue reading
3
The Invitation
3 October 2001  Author: Martha Kilpatrick
Matthew 22:1-10 NKJ And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said, "The kingdom of heaven is like a certain...continue reading
4
The Bride is Ready
4 October 2001  Author: Martha Kilpatrick
Revelation 19:7 NKJ Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come,...continue reading
5
The Great Divide
1 November 2001  Author: Martha Kilpatrick
 May it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the...continue reading
6
Ten Virgins
2 November 2001  Author: Martha Kilpatrick
Reading: Matthew 25:1-13 Virgins of the story are all believers. All are in the family of God, washed by the Blood of the...continue reading
7
Oil of the Spirit
3 November 2001  Author: Martha Kilpatrick
No Extra Oil Caught in the crisis of Christ's return, found wanting while waiting without fullness, the five foolish had run out of oil...continue reading
8
Wedding Clothes
1 December 2001  Author: Martha Kilpatrick
Reading: Matthew 22:1-14 The mysteries of Bridal preparation are strewn throughout scripture, by clear symbol. Jesus freely gave the secrets that gain a...continue reading
9
White Robes
2 December 2001  Author: Martha Kilpatrick
The King's daughter is all glorious within; Her clothing is interwoven with gold. She will be led to the King...continue reading
10
Fine Linen
3 December 2001  Author: Martha Kilpatrick
And it was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous...continue reading
11
Covered in Filth
1 January 2002  Author: Martha Kilpatrick
Before ever the bride was revealed in New Testament fulfillment, the 'what' and the 'how' of her preparation were planted in Old Testament...continue reading
12
White Turban, Blue Cord
2 January 2002  Author: Martha Kilpatrick
We can solve nothing about being nothing. And by being nothing, we can do nothing. We can only let God. To see our...continue reading
13
God's Dream
1 May 2002  Author: Martha Kilpatrick
The dream of God is marriage. Marriage was His original relationship for humanity. His favorite idea. The First Institution. The Original Bond. Not friends, not brothers...continue reading
14
Bride of the Cross
2 May 2002  Author: Martha Kilpatrick
Ephesians 5:26, 27 NAS . . . so that He might sanctify her,      having cleansed her by the washing of water with...continue reading
15
Gomer, Faithless Bride
3 May 2002  Author: Martha Kilpatrick
Hosea 1:2 NAS The Lord said to Hosea,       "Go, take to yourself a wife of harlotry  and have children of harlotry, for the...continue reading
16
The Reigning Bride
1 June 2002  Author: Martha Kilpatrick
I Corinthians 6:2a-3 Amplified Bible Do you not know that the saints (the believers) will one day judge and govern the world? Do...continue reading
17
Daniel's Sovereign God
2 June 2002  Author: Martha Kilpatrick
  Daniel said to Nebuchadnezzar, "Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms...continue reading
18
Called to Overcome
1 July 2002  Author: Martha Kilpatrick
Revelation 3:21 NASB "He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame...continue reading
19
The Overcoming Blood
2 July 2002  Author: Martha Kilpatrick
The first "overcoming" is to conquer what is within your own being . . . the wrongness that lives unchallenged in your primal...continue reading
20
The Overcoming Word
1 September 2002  Author: Martha Kilpatrick
The facts of God's gifts to us cannot be imagined. His being, His grace, His plan are so outside the thoughts of...continue reading
21
The Overcoming Testimony
2 September 2002  Author: Martha Kilpatrick
. . . he who accuses them before our God day and night, and they overcame him because of the...continue reading
22
The Overcoming Love
1 October 2002  Author: Martha Kilpatrick
Rev. 12:11 NAS And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their...continue reading
23
The Bridegroom
1 November 2002  Author: Martha Kilpatrick
The Lord Jesus has a multitude of names. Names that reveal facets and gifts of His boundless being. But one name will...continue reading
25
Indwelling Oneness
3 November 2002  Author: Martha Kilpatrick
This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Ephesians 5:32 NKJ Of all titles, "Bridegroom" is the...continue reading
26
Paul and the Husband
1 January 2003  Author: Martha Kilpatrick
For I am zealous for you with a godly eagerness and divine jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, to present you...continue reading
27
The Only Husband
2 January 2003  Author: Martha Kilpatrick
The one who dreamed marriage, made it not for human relationship but . . . for Himself. The human marriage, a hint...continue reading