God has planned a great wedding for his Son, Jesus to marry the spiritual bride, the church.

Rev. 19:7 → Preparations have been made, the wife has made herself ready.

As a bride prepares herself for the wedding day, we must prepare 

Part 1:  Examination of the marriage covenant.

What is a covenant - a formal or signed agreement? 

We have a binding agreement to love, submit, honor until death.

We will look to the Sinai covenant.  
    
Exo. 19:1 → God makes a covenant.

Exo. 19:5 → Israel agreement is to obey and keep the Commandments.  God’s covenant is to provide for them.

Exo. 24:6

Jer. 31:32

Jer. 11:10 → Israel broke agreement

Jer. 3:8
Judah was self-righteous during the time of Christ.  

Deut. 5:29 → God allowed this to happen to show that we need God.  He was showing a powerful lesson.

Rom. 8:7 → Without the Holy Spirit, mankind cannot submit to God.

1 Cor 2:19

Heb. 8:6 → There wasn’t a problem with the Law, it is with the people.

There are requirements that we must keep as God’s people.

2 Cor. 3:3 --> The Laws are written on our heart.

Rom. 7:4 → We will marry Jesus Christ.  Can we picture ourselves standing at that ceremony and taking that vow.

2 Cor 11:2 → Promised to one husband, Jesus Christ.

We are in the process of salvation, putting out the leaven

Look at 4 Ways we can Prepare ourselves now

1.  To Love

Love is expressed by action.  We express our love to God in the same way.

1 John 5:3 → The proof we love God is by keeping His Commandments.  We appreciate that He gave them to us.

Phil. 1:9 - 11 → May we always be filled with the fruit of our salvation.  We cannot obey without God’s help or show love to others without God’s help.

How often are expressing that love language to God?  How about acts of service?  How involved are we to use our energies and talents?  What is our attitude during our offering?  How about on the Sabbath day?  Are we a joyful, pleasant person?  Are we complaining and not very thankful?

How about quality time with our Father.

Matt. 25:37 → We have to learn to love and it takes work and effort.

We have to learn to express love in the proper way.  God will take that skill and use it when we teach.

2.  To Cherish (to hold dear) 

We cultivate with care, we harbor in the mind, deeply.  Do we cherish God’s Law and the relationship He calls us in to.  

Matt. 15:8 → Where is God on our priority list.

God wants to cherish the calling He’s given us and cultivate our relationship.

Mal. 3:13

3.  To Honor 

Honor is to respect and esteem.  What kind of example are we on a daily basis?  If we don’t deny Christ, He won’t deny us.

We have to represent God and Christ in our daily actions and words.

1 Pet. 2:11 → We honor God by living what He wants us to do.

Honor comes down to trust.  Do we trust that God is grooming us and helping us to grow?   We must do our best to reflect His nature.

Prov. 31:11

4.  To Submit 

Ruth 3:1-5 → Ruth had no understanding to what Naomi was saying, but she agreed to it.  It is very similar to Mary.  When she saw an angel, she said, “I am the Lord’s servant”.

Luke 22:42 → What do you want God?  What do you want Him to do.