Scripture Reading (NIV):
2 Cor 3 : 7 - 18
7  But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the
children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his
countenance; which glory was to be done away:
8  How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?
9  For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of
righteousness exceed in glory.
10  For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory
that excelleth.
11  For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.
12 ¶  Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: {plainness: or,
boldness}
13  And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not
stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:
14  But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in
the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.
15  But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.
16  Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.
17  Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
18  But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into
the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. {by the…: or, of the Lord
the Spirit}

2 Cor 4 : 7 - 9
7  But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of
God, and not of us.
8 ¶  We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
{in despair: or, altogether without help, or, means}
9  Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

Rom 8 : 18 - 30
18  For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the
glory which shall be revealed in us.
19  For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of
God.
20  For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath
subjected the same in hope,
21  Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the
glorious liberty of the children of God.
22  For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
{the…: or, every creature}
23  And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we
ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
24  For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why
doth he yet hope for?
25  But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
26 ¶  Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for
as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be
uttered.
27  And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he
maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. {because: or, that}
28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are
the called according to his purpose.
29 ¶  For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of
his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
30  Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he
also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.


Message

The Bride is waiting t o be perfected with the Perfection of the Groom. Nothing less than the
Perfect Bride will be acceptable to the Groom who is the Glory of the Father, the Pure
Spotless Lamb of God, the Holy .... of Judah, the Bright Morning Star, the Lily of the Valley.

Jesus has chosen to prepare His Bride through a process of purging that will end with the
Glorified Church. I believe Christ will come back to a purged, sanctified and glorified church,
a church that is powerful, prophetic purged, proclaiming Christ with boldness, fearless and
free.

Look at the process. I believe it is a process that every church will under go before His return.

Here are five words that came to me.

1.        Sifting
2.        Suffering
3.        Shaking
4.        Breaking/Remaking
5.        Called / Chosen
You are called, but are you chosen?

Christ is a bit like the female finch that tears the male’s nest apart in the process of testing to
see if it is strong enough to endure the vigours of the weather. She wants to know that she
and her young will be safe during the storms that come.

1.     Sifting
Luke 22: 24 - 34
24  And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.
25  And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they
that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.
26  But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and
he that is chief, as he that doth serve.
27  For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at
meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.
28  Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations.
29  And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;
30  That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the
twelve tribes of Israel.
31  And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift
you as wheat:
32  But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen
thy brethren.
33  And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.
34  And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice
deny that thou knowest me.


Peter  was sifted, his heart tested and purged through he test Christ put his through.

So are we, sifted and tested. Will we come through as Peter did? Purged, free and a vessel fit
for use.


2.   Suffering
Heb 5 : 7 - 10
7  Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong
crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he
feared; {in that…: or, for his piety}
8  Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
9  And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey
him;
10 ¶  Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.

James 1 : 2 - 4
2 ¶  My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; {temptations: or, trials}
3  Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
4  But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

When you come to a place of considering it “PURE JOY” when you face trials you know your
heart is “RIGHT”

3.   Shaking
Heb 12 : 22 - 29
22  But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly
Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
23  To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to
God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, {written: or, enrolled}
24  And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that
speaketh better things than that of Abel. {covenant: or, testament}
25  See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that
spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from
heaven:
26  Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I
shake not the earth only, but also heaven.
27  And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as
of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. {are shaken:
or, may be shaken}
28  Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby
we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: {let…: or, let us hold fast}
29  For our God is a consuming fire.


God will allow shaking to take place till only His Kingdom remains that can not be shaken.


4.    Breaking/Remaking
Jeremiah 18 : 1 - 6  
1 ¶  The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,
2  Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.
3  Then I went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.
{wheels: or, frames, or, seats}
4  And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it
again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. {of clay…: or, was marred, as
clay in the hand of the potter} {made it…: Heb. returned and made, etc}
5  Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
6  O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay
is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.


You are as clay in the Potter’s hands. He will only stop breaking and remaking you when He
is satisfied with your shape. God is dealing with our heart and character.

5.      Called / Chosen
Mt 22 : 1 - 14
1 ¶  And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,
2  The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,
3  And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would
not come.
4  Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have
prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto
the marriage.
5  But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:
6  And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.
7  But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and
destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
8  Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not
worthy.
9  Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.
10  So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they
found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.
11  And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a
wedding garment:
12  And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment?
And he was speechless.
13  Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast
him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
14  For many are called, but few are chosen.


The Great Harvest is about to begin. Jesus is calling us to bring people into the Wedding
Banquet of the Lamb, but not everyone will accept the conditions. All must be clothed with the
garment provided by the King of Kings.                                                       
                                                                                        Learn  More in Part 2
Church on the Way.
Glorification of the Bride of Christ! 03/04/05    Sermon - week 14
St. Georges Presbyterian Church  Bluff, Durban, South Africa.