FAITH IS THE VICTORY

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Shelby G. Floyd

 

 

 

 

Thanks to our God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ:

 

“For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God (1 John 5:4-5).

 

The terms “victory” and “overcomes” in this text translate from the Greek word, “νίκή-nike.”  Nike means to be victorious, prevail, conquer, overcome and win. God wants us to be victorious, not a victim. How do we win?

 

VICTORY THROUGH THE NEW BIRTH

We have the victory through the new birth into God’s family: “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves his child as well” (1 John 5:1).

 

Jesus said we cannot enter the kingdom of God unless we are born of water and the Spirit. Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”

5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God (John 3:3-5 NKJV).

 

VICTORY THROUGH LOVE

Through our love for God and God’s children we have the victory (1 John 5:1).  Jesus declared that all men would know that we are his disciples when we love as he has loved us:

 

“Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come,’ so now I say to you. 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another” (John 13:33-34).

 

VICTORY THROUGH OBEDIENCE

Genuine love is always joined with obedience (1 John 5:2). Obedience to God’s word is not a burden when we love God: “This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3). Human traditions and man-made rules are heavy loads to carry, but the yoke of Christ is light (Matthew 23:4; 11:30).

 

VICTORY OVER THE WORLD

We have the ultimate victory over death and the world through our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ: “Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God” (1 John 5:5)?  Nike—We WIN! (Revelation 21:7).

—Shelby G. Floyd

 

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Christ Built One Church

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Shelby G. Floyd

 

Jesus Promised to Build One Church.

Contrary to the popular notion that one may join the church of his choice; the Bible teaches that there is just one church. In fact, Jesus Christ never promised to build but one church. In the area of Caesarea Philippi, Jesus said, “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18 NKJV). Jesus did not say, “I will build my churches,” but he said, “I will build my church,” singular. Jesus built but one church, and he called it “my church.”

The One Church in Ephesians

In the book of Ephesians, the one church which Jesus promised to build is mentioned several times as an established reality. In the first chapter, Paul affirmed the supreme authority of Christ as the head of the church, “And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all” (Ephesians 1:22-23 NKJV). This one church is spoken of as the body of Christ. The word “body” is in the singular.

Christ is the one head, and the church is his one body which together forms a unit. This is a figurative reference to the human organism which has one head and one body. The idea of modern denominationalism is foreign to the teaching of the New Testament. In New Testament times there were many congregations, but they all formed one body or one church.

Ephesians Two

In chapter two, Paul speaks of the alienation of the Jew and the Gentile being reconciled together in one body by the cross of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:16). The gospel is the gospel of peace to both the Jew and the Gentile, for it is through Christ that both have access unto the Father by the one Spirit into the one body.

Ephesians Three

In chapter three, Paul speaks of the reconciliation of the Jew and Gentile in one body as a great mystery, which in previous ages had not been revealed unto the sons and daughters of men as it was being revealed at that time. The unity of both the Jew and Gentile in the one church, or the one body, manifested God’s great wisdom. Paul had been given a part in declaring this mystery to the whole world. He endeavored, “and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 3: 9-10 NKJV).

It is the church singular which makes known the manifold wisdom of God, and not modern denominationalism. It is in the one church that God’s glory and wisdom is manifested throughout all ages: “to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen” (Ephesians 3:21 NET).

Ephesians Four

In chapter four, Paul speaks of the unity of the church under the phrase, “the unity of the Spirit.” The unity of the church is outlined under seven units. Paul says, “Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all” (Ephesians 4:3-6 KJV). We notice in these verses that there is just one body, and we have already learned that the one body is the church. Therefore, God does not have but one church or one body. It would be just as reasonable to say that there are many Gods or many Lords as to say there are many churches or bodies.

Ephesians Five

In chapter five, Paul compares the headship of Christ over the church to that of the husband over the wife. He said, “For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior” (Ephesians 5:23 ESV). The singular nouns body and church are used instead of the plural. This teaches, as in every other place that Christ has but one church or body, and he is the Savior of that body as well as being its head and ruler.

Copyright © 2026 Shelby G. Floyd, All Rights Reserved

Shelby G. Floyd, minister, Heartland Church of Christ, 193 West Main Street, Greenwood, Indiana 46142

 

 

 

JESUS IS THE ICON OF THE INVISIBLE GOD

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Shelby Floyd

Icons are everywhere today. They are on computers, computer tablets and smart cell phones. They are used in television and mailing advertising. They are very helpful in many ways by simplifying what we search for in the technological world of the twenty-first century. Sometimes this is not the case, because there are so many of them that it is often confusing to find them and distinguish them one from another by what they represent.

But there are some icons that are so well known that everyone can identify who or what they stand for or represent. Almost everyone can identify the icons for IBM, AT&T, GM, Apple, Microsoft, and Goggle etc. In the religious world we only have one God that everyone needs to know and identify. The one God is invisible and so we need an icon to be an exact image of God the Father.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the image (icon) of the invisible God. In Paul’s letter to the church at Colossae, he identifies the perfect icon of the heavenly Father:

Colossians 1:15
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
ESV

“The invisible God” is the God who in the beginning created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1). He is also the same God in the Colossian context who “…has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:13-14 NKJV). In no other name does anyone have salvation except the name of Christ: “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12 NIV).

When Paul says that “He is the image of the invisible God” the reference is to Jesus Christ, God’s beloved and only begotten Son. The word “image” in the original Greek is [eikon], from which we derive the English word icon that is so familiar today. So Jesus Christ is the visible ICON of the invisible God who created everything.

We have no visible photos of what Jesus looked like outwardly, but we have a perfect moral image of him in his speech, attitude, worship, prayer life and the way he treated his fellow man. If we want to know what “the invisible God” is like we only need to study the perfect God-man—Jesus Christ! The word [image—eikon] used in Colossians 1:15 is applied to Christ “on account of his divine nature and absolute moral excellence” (Thayer, page 175).

When we see and have a mental and moral picture of Christ, then we see the Father, for he is the exact “image” of the Father. John the Baptist was the forerunner of Christ and the harbinger of the grace and truth that Christ came to reveal. Of him John said, “No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him” (John 1:18 NKJV).

After Jesus announced that he would die on the cross and go back to the Father, Philip asked him to show them the Father. That question elicited this answer from Christ: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’”? (John 14:9).

Dear friend, Christ Jesus then is our ICON of the invisible God! Learn, love, worship and serve him forever!

Copyright © 2026 Shelby G. Floyd, All Rights Reserved



Heartland Church of Christ
1693 West Main Street                                                                                                                                        Greenwood, Indiana 46142

 

The Providence of God

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Shelby G. Floyd

How many of us can remember back when we were little children, school was out, we got up in the morning and we would play with our friends from daylight and there were no worries, no anxiety. When I was a child, I never worried about whether we were going to have food on the table; I just trusted my mom and dad and I knew that they would take care of me. I never worry about whether I was going to have a good coat when wintertime would come on; they just always took care of me, and I trusted them. I never worried about the mortgage payment or whether we would have a place to live, because I just took that for granted; I trusted my parents and they always came through. Many of us have that kind of trust, that kind of a faith in an all-powerful, all loving heavenly Father, that he will do the same for us today! I really feel like we need to get the lesson of God’s overruling Providence into our hearts in a firm and fixed way.

The Story of Joseph

One of the most beautiful stories to me is found in Genesis beginning with chapter 37 and continuing through that book. It is the story about the patriarch Jacob, and he had all of the sons. The youngest son was named Joseph. He really loved Joseph in a special way because he was born by his wife, Rachel, who he loved also in a special way. He loved him so much because he was born when Jacob was up in the years. Jacob was an old man. So, Joseph had a special place in his heart. But this created jealousy and envy on the part of Joseph’s brothers, and they hated him. They would not even speak peaceably to him and on a certain occasion when the opportunity was right, they even wanted to kill their brother, Joseph. But the way it turned out, instead of killing him, they sold him as a slave into bondage down into Egypt. Joseph was separated from his family, separated from his father, separated from his brothers. He was off in a distant land, but Joseph was a man who trusted the Almighty. He never lost faith. Whatever happened to him, he realized that God had a plan for his life. Sometimes he would be down in the very depths of despair, but he never gave up. He never lost faith; he never changed his character. He was true to his God whether he was at home in Canaan land or whether he was in the land of Egypt. God loved Joseph. God looked down from heaven, and God took care of him. God exalted him and ultimately, he became prime minister of the land of Egypt. God had a plan not only for Joseph, but God had a plan for Joseph’s father, Joseph’s brothers and God had a plan for the whole human race and Joseph was a part of that plan, even when terrible things happened to him down in Egypt. Later on when there was a great famine in Canaan and Jacob had to send his sons down to Egypt to buy corn and food so they could survive, after the second trip, Joseph revealed himself to his brothers and it was fulfilled what he had earlier prophesied that they would bow down to him like the stars of heaven would bow down to the sun and they would bow down to him like the sheep that bow down to the shepherd that was in the meadow; it was all fulfilled. When they realized that it was their brother, Joseph, they became very afraid and especially after their father died, they were afraid that Joseph would take vengeance upon them for the terrible things that they had done in the way they had treated him. But in Genesis 50 Joseph makes a point that I want to emphasize this morning. He said, “do not fear what I will do to you, because you meant it unto me for evil, but God meant it for good to save many people alive this day.” Now there is the point that we wish to make. If we really love God and we trust him and we are serving him, even things that seem to be evil in our life can turn out to be for good. God can overrule any evil that happens in our life and bring good out of it. Was it evil that Joseph’s brothers sold him into Egypt? Yes. Was it evil that he was falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife and thrown in prison? Yes. Did God overrule that and bring about good in the life of Joseph? Yes. God wanted to save Jacob and his children and his posterity so Christ could come into the world, and he did that through Joseph and through all these things happening to him. Joseph was at the right place at the right time to be selected as the Prime Minister of Egypt, to overrule the dispensaries of food when the famine came and save them alive and prosper them so they would become the great nation of Israel and later bring God’s scheme of redemption and reveal it to us by the Old Testament prophets and, ultimately, manage to bring Christ into the world. That is the Providence of God.

The Providence of God

What is the Providence of God? I really believe in the Providence of God. God controls and guides the events of our world in such a way as to bless his children. This is what we mean when we talk about the Providence of God.

Robert Richerson was the son-in-law of Alexander Campbell, and he was a teacher at Bethany College in Bethany, West Virginia. And in the Millennial Harbinger he made this statement about Providence: “It is indeed the very idea and definition of Providence that it is the divine agency exerted in sustaining and governing the universe. It differs from miracle in this – that its designs are brought to pass by means of the established laws and through the ordinary channels, while a miracle is the accomplishment of a purpose by other means.” He goes on to say, “By the Providence of God, then we need his care and his superintendence in preserving and governing the world. By the preservation of the world is implied in the upholding, the being, the powers and the attributes of all created things and by government is signified a controlling overruling power over everything which is thus upheld.” So, I think you can see from that definition that God and the word teaches that God is governing and superintending, and he is bringing his purposes about through whatever things are going on in the natural world. Continue reading “The Providence of God” →

Is Christ Your Life?

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Shelby G. Floyd

The apostle Paul was arrested at Jerusalem, and he was sent by the governing authorities on a dangerous sea voyage to Rome. The author of the Acts said, “when we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him.” (Acts 28: 16).

What was going on during Paul’s two years of imprisonment in Rome? “For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Acts 28: 30-31).

The apostle wrote Philippians from his prison. From a strictly worldly viewpoint, being in prison for no crime seemed to be a bad thing. When Christ is our life, God can take a bad thing and make it a good thing and can even make it a God thing. Paul had a positive spirit. Because of the prayers of the Philippians for him and the power of the Spirit of Christ that was within him, he believed “what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.” (Philippians 1: 19).

Paul confessed that he eagerly expected and hoped that he would not be ashamed of the gospel and of Christ. He intended to be bold and courageous in exalting and magnifying Christ whether it was by life or death. “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is again.” (Philippians 1:21). If Christ is not our life, we are not ready to die. Paul had already died to sin and now Christ was living in him.

 

To the Galatians he said, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the son of God, who love me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20). Let all who have been baptized into Christ rise to walk a new life of joy and focus on living for Christ.


The apostle Paul was arrested at Jerusalem, and he was sent by the governing authorities on a dangerous sea voyage to Rome.  The author of the Acts said, “when we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him.”  (Acts 28: 16). 

What was going on during Paul’s two years of imprisonment in Rome? “For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him.  Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.”  (Acts 28: 30-31).

Paul wrote Philippians from his prison. From a strictly worldly viewpoint, being in prison for no crime seemed to be a bad thing.  When Christ is our life, God can take a bad thing and make it a good thing and can even make it a God thing.  Paul had a positive spirit.  Because of the prayers of the Philippians for him and the power of the Spirit of Christ that was within him, he believed “what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.”  (Philippians 1: 19).

 Paul confessed that he eagerly expected and hoped that he would not be ashamed of the gospel and of Christ.  He intended to be bold and courageous in exalting and magnifying Christ whether it was by life or death. “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is again.”  (Philippians 1:21).  If Christ is not our life, we are not ready to die.  Paul had already died to sin and now Christ was living in him. 

To the Galatians he said, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.  The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the son of God, who love me and gave himself for me.”  (Galatians 2:20). Let all who have been baptized into Christ rise to walk a new life of joy and focus on living for Christ.

Copyright © 2025 Shelby G. Floyd, All Rights Reserved

Shelby G. Floyd, Minister at the Heartland Church of Christ, 1693 West Main Street, Greenwood, Indiana 46142

PAUL’S FIRST LETTER TO THESSALONICA

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Shelby G. Floyd

Paul and Silas traveled in the northern part of Asia when they were on their second evangelistic journey. The Holy Spirit of God forbade them to preach the gospel in that area. They entered the city of Troas where Paul had a vision in the night of a man pleading for them to come over into Macedonia (Acts 16:6-10). At once they embarked to Philippi, where they established the first congregation of the church in Europe. After much persecution they were forced to depart to Thessalonica (Acts 16:11-17:1).

Thessalonica was one of the chief cities of Macedonia, being favorably located on the great Roman road called the Via Ignatia. At one time the city was called Therma because of the hot springs. Cassander remodeled and enlarged the city. Then he chose to honor his wife Thessalonica, by naming the city after her. (1) the Romans then made it the capital of the province of Macedonia and 164 B. C. And after the Battle of Philippi in 42 B. C. It became a free city. (2)

Paul immediately entered the synagogue of the Jews. This is probably the reason they passed by Amphipolis and Apollonia. A synagogue usually always represented a large Jewish population and Gentile proselytes. (3) Ten Jewish men were required to establish a synagogue. Then Paul reasoned with them from the Scriptures that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead. Then he plainly stated, “This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ” (Acts 17:2-3).

Luke the physician became a traveling partner with them at Troas (Acts 16:10), relates to us that some of the Jews and a great multitude of the Greeks and chief women believed! (4) some say the reason so many Gentiles were converted was the fact Paul stayed on the increase directly to them after the doors of the synagogue were closed. (5) this seems highly and likely since the unbelieving Jews rounded up all the of the towns rascals and stirred up a mob riot. After he had sold the house of Jason, the brethren immediately remove Paul and Silas to Berea, knowing it was not safe for them to stay there any longer. Just exactly how long they were in Thessalonica is a question which has been answered in many ways. But Luke sets forth the fact that they were forced to leave after three weeks preaching. This seems correct, for Paul and Silas were having met many responses at Berea until the same unbelieving Jews at Thessalonica came down insert up the people. It then seems doubtful they would have been able to stay at Thessalonica any longer than three weeks! Continue reading “PAUL’S FIRST LETTER TO THESSALONICA” →

TEST THE SPIRITS

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Shelby G. Floyd

 

 

 

 

 

 


“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1 NIV). These warning words are from the apostle John! There are still many false teachers around today!

The author of the letter to the church of Ephesus is Jesus Christ (Revelation 2:1-3). This letter is a part of the revelation which God gave to Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ gave to an angel, the angel signified to John, and John wrote it down in a book and sent it to the churches (Revelation 1:1-2).

A great blessing is pronounced upon those who read, hear and keep those things which are written in the last book of the Bible (Revelation 1:3.) John received this wonderful disclosure while he was on the Isle of Patmos. He heard a great voice behind him as the voice of a trumpet, loud, distinct and clear. When he turned to see who was speaking, he saw seven golden candlesticks and in the midst of those golden candlesticks he saw the glorified Christ, like unto the son of man, and he had in his right hand seven stars (Revelation 1:9-19). Continue reading “TEST THE SPIRITS” →

THE IMMORTAL SPIRIT OF MAN

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Shelby G. Floyd

 

Good morning! I am sure we all had a great Thanksgiving with our family and friends. The songs we have sung today are really great and go perfectly with my lesson. I really like that last song about “the soul that never dies!”

My subject today is the “The Immortal Spirit of Man!” The Bible says that all Scripture is given by inspiration of the Almighty. And the word of God is able to make us perfect unto salvation. That salvation is in Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 3:14-17). And it is in Christ that we find the complete growth and purpose of man.

GOD MADE MAN IN HIS IMAGE

 

Man has an immortal spirit. And I use the word man in the sense of Adam being the federal head of the human family. That includes man and woman. So we are talking about mankind.

We read in the Bible the question: “What is man that you are mindful of him?” And so we will answer that question in the course of this lesson. Did you know that all of us have an immortal spirit or soul? This soul/spirit came from Almighty God. Soul and spirit are sometimes used interchangeably. But there is also a slight distinction between the soul and the spirit. We will discuss that later.

In order to introduce this lesson, we must go all the way back to Genesis. The Bible says that God created man in his own image. Just think about that. We are made in God’s image. What or who is God? He made us in his image. “So God created man in his own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them” (Genesis 1:27 NKJV). This recounts the origin of man in one verse of Scripture. Man and woman were made in God’s image! Therefore, we were made to honor God.

In Genesis we read “The Lord created man out of the dust of the earth and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and man became a living being” (Genesis 2:7). This expressed the twofold nature of man. The body was made out of dust. There is not anything made out of dust today that can equal what God made out of the clay! But God did not stop after he had made man out of the earth! “He breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and man became a living being” (Genesis 2:7).

And then God planted man in the garden of Eden. I have always wondered where the garden was located. Many others wonder too! It is identified as being near the river Euphrates. But we are lost in locating the other three rivers.

Anyway, in that garden, God placed the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Trees are a great blessing. We have all enjoyed the fall scenes of Indiana. Indiana has a forest of oak trees operated on behalf of the USS Constitution and any repairs that ship may need. It is off-limits to everyone else!

Therefore God created a beautiful garden for man and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was there. And it appears that man did not know the difference between good and evil until he ate of that tree. God commanded him not to eat of it.

Do you remember your innocence growing up as a child? You never committed any sin. And then the first time you committed sin; you did not have a good feeling. Then you thought, “I am now a sinner, because I know the difference between good and evil!” That will give us some idea of how Adam and Eve felt when they realized the difference between good and evil (See Genesis 2:15-17). And God said to them, “you will surely die!” Man did not die physically that day. Man died spiritually because he was separated from God. And after he was separated from God, he hid from Him because he was guilty. Continue reading “THE IMMORTAL SPIRIT OF MAN” →

THE BRIDE OF CHRIST

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Shelby G. Floyd

 


Good morning church. We thank God for a beautiful fall and refreshing rain last night. It is good to live in Indiana and enjoy this beautiful time of the year! I am thankful Jim has recuperated from his illness and is able to lead the singing again.

About three weeks ago I spoke to you on the subject “Can a Bride Forget Her Attire?” (Jeremiah 2:32). Today, I am speaking on “The Bride of Christ.” Someone might say, “I didn’t know Christ was married!” I believe you will know that Christ is married after this lesson today. I have made a fresh study on the subject, and I have learned a lot about this topic. The Bride of Christ is actually a metaphor in figurative language with Christ as the bridegroom and the church pictured as the bride.

OUTLINE OF A BIBLICAL WEDDING

 

Our weddings today follow to some extent the biblical weddings. But they were more expanded than our weddings today. Here is a brief schedule of how weddings were carried out in the days of Jesus Christ:

1. The fathers of the bridegroom and bride would come together and they would plan the wedding. This involved when it would take place and everything that would happen. So they would produce an outline of the wedding.

2. Next, the bridegroom would agree to pay the “bride price,” or bride gift! (cf. Genesis 24:12). Jacob agreed with his uncle Laban to work seven years for his daughter Rachel. He did so, and then Laban gave him her not so pretty sister! Paul told the Corinthians that the church was bought at a price, “For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:20). The church was purchased with the blood of Christ – the bride price!

3. Then the groom and bride would sign the marriage covenant or contract. This was called the betrothal, or as we would call it today, “the engagement.” (Compare Isaac and Rebekah in Genesis 24:58-60).

4. But after the betrothal they did not come together. The groom would depart to his father’s house to prepare a home for his bride. Sometimes it would be a year or more before they came together. That is exactly what the bridegroom of the church did. He ascended to heaven and the angel said he would come back to take his bride home. (Compare Acts 1:9-10). That is the way it will happen when Jesus comes to take his bride to the heavenly home.

5. While Jesus the bridegroom is a way, his friends wait to escort him to the new home. But they must keep their lamps shining and not let them go out. (Compare Matthew 25:5-6). The bridegroom will come at a time when he is least expected!

6. Suddenly, the groom returns for his bride and escorts her to their new house. “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18).

7. And then finally, there is a great celebration called, “the marriage supper of the Lamb!” (Revelation 19:7-9). So those are the steps in biblical weddings and in the wedding of Christ and the church!

CHRIST IS THE BRIDEGROOM

 

Jesus was questioned about fasting one time. They asked him why the disciples of John and the Pharisees fasted, but his disciples did not fast. Then Jesus gave them his answer. He asked them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them?” (Mark 2:18-19). In Matthew’s account he says almost the same thing: “Then the disciples of John came to Him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?” And Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast” (Matthew 9:14-15). Pay attention to the words, “the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them.”

John the Baptist was the friend of the bridegroom Jesus Christ. The Bible says, “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). So John the Baptist came on the scene before Christ. And he was very happy that he was the friend of the bridegroom. And he rejoiced among the people. He prepared and pointed the people to the bridegroom!
So while the bridegroom was with them, the people rejoiced in eating, feasting, and drinking with Christ. “Then they said to Him, “Why do the disciples of John fast often and make prayers, and likewise those of the Pharisees, but Yours eat and drink?” And He said to them, “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them; then they will fast in those days” (Luke 5:33-35)? The emphasis is that the bridegroom will be taken away from them. And then they will be able to fast because they are sad! Continue reading “THE BRIDE OF CHRIST” →

CAN A BRIDE FORGET HER ATTIRE?

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By

Shelby G. Floyd

Good morning! We just had an uplifting song service. And that prepares us to study the wonderful word of God. Today I am speaking on a text that I have never used in 63 years of preaching. The Bible is in exhaustible and infinite just like God who gave it to us!

Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, prophesied to Israel during the years 700 BC to 575 BC. During this time God’s people were backsliding. They were becoming like the idolatrous and adulterous nations around them. And our world is a lot like that today and we see some of the same things in the church of our Lord today. The danger is that the church, like Israel, will become like the world and many will end up lost. Not to reach the promised land of heaven is the ultimate failure of life.


The Prophets Warned Israel!

 

The prophets warned Israel of impending disaster. And they urged them to return to the Lord and he would bless them like he did in the days of old! God’s prophets spoke to Israel and Judah. I will stop right here and explain why we have Israel and Judah. When God’s people left Egypt they were just the 12 tribes of Israel. But later they had a division. And the 12 tribes divided between Israel and Judah. Israel ruled from Samaria and Judah ruled from Jerusalem. Therefore the prophets now speak to them as Israel and Judah. But formerly they were all just Israel.

The Prophets Used Figurative Language!
The prophets spoke to them in highly figurative language. Figures of speech can be very powerful in communicating truth to the people. We do not use this form of speaking as much as the ancients, but it is still very powerful in conveying great lessons to God’s people. Therefore, these prophets urged Israel and Judah to return to the husband that had loved them at the beginning when he led them out of Egypt. Our text today is just one verse: “Can a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet my people have forgotten me days without number” (Jeremiah 2:32 NKJV).

So there is the problem! They had forgotten who they were, and that they were married to the Lord. Therefore my lesson today breaks down into three parts: 1. God Married Israel; 2. God Divorces Israel; and 3. God Renews His Marriage With Israel. This is a very simple message, but I believe it to be very powerful to all of us today!

 

I. GOD’S MARRIAGE TO ISRAEL

 

Continue reading “CAN A BRIDE FORGET HER ATTIRE?” →