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5-14-2023 Sunday Sermon Message

Meditations of the Week: Psalm 91:1-16

Text: Genesis 24:61-67

Word title: A bride who meets and marries Christ under the guidance of the Holy Spirit

       The Holy Spirit testified through the Apostle John about the words recorded in the Old Testament:

Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. (John 5:39-40 KJV)

       The three figures appearing in today’s text represent the shadows of Christ Jesus and those related to Him.

       First is Isaac, a type of Christ Jesus, who became a sacrifice for all the world on the cross of Calvary.

all:

And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together. And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. (Genesis 22:6-8 KJV)

        The scene where Abraham has his son Isaac carry wood on his back for burnt offering and goes up to Mount Moriah is a preview of the scene in which God’s only begotten Son Christ Jesus will carry the wooden cross on His back going up to Mount Calvary. Mount Moriah is the location of modern day Mount Calvary.

        The fact that King Solomon built a temple for burnt offerings to God on Mount Moriah is a prophetic indication that Christ will be offered as a sacrifice on that very spot in the future:

¶ Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem in mount Moriah, where the LORD appeared unto David his father, in the place that David had prepared in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite. (2 Chronicles 3:1 KJV)

       Second, Abraham’s servant Eliezer is commanded to bring Isaac’s bride from far away a foreign land, meets Rebekah, and returns on a camel, foreshadowing the Holy Spirit sent into the world by Heavenly Father:

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:26 KJV)

        Jesus Himself spoke of the purpose of the Holy Spirit’s coming into the world, foreshadowed by Eliezer:

¶ But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: (John 15:26 KJV)

       And finally, Eliezer, as a type of the Holy Spirit, the comforter, witnessing to Rebekah about Isaac, a type of the coming Christ, Rebekah believed Isaac to be her husband and followed Eliezer on his journey.

Therefore, Rebekah was a type of a saved Christian who heard the gospel of Christ, believed in Him, received Him, and received the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ. The Apostle Paul testified of those who believed in Christ, received the Holy Spirit, and were saved by grace:

¶ And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. ¶ But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:1-9 KJV)

       Eliezer did not ask Rebekah for anything in return, but instead took out silver and gold jewelry and clothes for her, and only went out with Rebekah to journey back home when she trusted Isaac as her husband and followed him. Rebekah’s trust in Isaac and becoming his bride was a gift of sheer grace. Just like when a thief on the cross called Jesus Lord and confessed, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. (Luke 23:42 KJV), Jesus immediately saved him by grace unconditionally. Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. (Luke 23:43 KJV)

        Rebekah saw her future husband, Isaac, meditating in the field in the evening. As Isaac saw the camels coming, he saw Eliezer and his bride coming. When Rebekah asked Eliezer who the man that was approaching to meet them, he replied ”It is my master,” As soon as she heard this, she raised her veil and covered herself, as if the dove-like Shulamite saw Solomon.

        Christians who believe in Christ Jesus and receive salvation by grace and receive the Holy Spirit, like Rebekah under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, become pilgrims in the world until the day they meet Christ, their husband,  only looking forward to the day when Christ appears in the air. We must live a faithful life while rejoicing in hope, covering ourselves with a veil and purifying ourselves. Even though our flesh may die and sleep in the grave before Christ comes, we must live in hope of ressurection on day of Christ. The Apostle Paul testified of the thrilling moment when Christ will appear in the air:

¶ But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 KJV)

       The raptured saints, like Rebekah, will be married to Christ, who is like Isaac. The Apostle John saw and testified of the wedding ceremony of the Lamb:

Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. (Revelation 19:7-8 KJV)

amen! Hallelujah!