Together to Topple Darkness

Together:

To topple darkness

When a child is born, parents tend to dream of what the child's future will look like. What will they become? Who will they marry? What will they do? Jesus' parents were no different. Except, his parents anticipated a great and glorious future for him because, unlike most children, the future of Jesus was foretold and eagerly anticipated for hundreds (thousands) of years! Even before he was born, his mother was given insider information on who this miracle child was and what he would do!

32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
- Luke 1:32–33

Not only was Jesus life and work foretold, fixed as a plan by his Father from before the foundation of the world. God had also determined that there would be a holy bride for his Son.

4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love
- Ephesians 1:4.

Jesus makes us holy and blameless, and is making us holy and blameless, so that we would be united with him one day in the loudest and most glorious moment of joy ever to happen in all of eternity.

6 Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, 

“Hallelujah! 
For the Lord our God 
the Almighty reigns. 
7  Let us rejoice and exult 
and give him the glory, 
for the marriage of the Lamb has come, 
and his Bride has made herself ready; 
8  it was granted her to clothe herself 
with fine linen, bright and pure”— 

for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. 
Revelation 19:6–8

When we get together on Sundays and worship, study the Word of God, and submit to Jesus and one another out of his great love for us, Jesus is preparing us, his bride.

Last Sunday, in real time, I saw the body of Christ meet and prayerfully consider how best to minister the resources of God in the coming year. We agreed on a budget for 2022. If we see anything in Scripture, those resources will ultimately be used to sanctify the bride of Christ as Christ's Kingdom is ever expanding. Rome International Church, as a part of the body of Christ in Rome, will continue to participate in the toppling of the Kingdom of darkness as we trust in Jesus, the conquering king, to faithfully make us spotless, blameless and pure.

I am so thankful to be 'in this' with you.