Preparing the Church as the Bride of Christ

“For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused
you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.”
(2 Corinthians 11:2

In the ancient times, especially in the eastern countries, it was a common
practice to employ men who have been castrated to have the charge or care of
the bed-chambers in palaces and larger houses, particularly in the apartments
of the queens and princesses.

The eastern kings only entrusted the care of their queens, concubines, and
princesses to eunuchs who they know are incapable of violating or abusing
them sexually. The eunuchs were often the most trusted servants of the kings.
They were often referred to as “the custodians of women” (Esth. 1:10-11;
2:3).

All the young beautiful virgins sought for King Ahasuerus so that he may
choose a replacement for the deposed Queen Vashti were first put under the
custody of Hegai the king’s eunuch for twelve months.

Esther 2:
1 After these things, when the wrath of King Ahasuerus subsided, he
remembered Vashti, what she had done, and what had been decreed against
her.
2 Then the king's servants who attended him said: "Let beautiful young
virgins be sought for the king;
3 "and let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom,
that they may gather all the beautiful young virgins to Shushan the citadel,
into the women's quarters, under the custody of Hegai the king's eunuch,
custodian of the women. And let beauty preparations be given them.
(NKJV).

Hegai was called “the custodian of the women” in the above scripture
and so he was entrusted with the responsibility of preparing the young and
beautiful virgins for the king.

In a spiritual sense, God’s servants today are trusted eunuchs in
God’s kingdom. They could rightly be referred to as “the custodians of
the bride of Christ.” Yet the strange thing is that as servants of God we
too are are a part of that corporate Bride and have a responsibility
to,prepare both those under our care and ourselves too to "make ourselves
ready".

The primary responsibility of God’s servants today is very similar to
that of Hegai the King Ahasuerus’ eunuch. Every true servant of God today,
like Hegai, is charged with the responsibility of preparing and presenting
ourselves and other brothers and sisters as a chaste, holy, spotless and
glorious bride (the Church) to Christ (Eph. 5:27).

Undoubtedly, Apostle Paul understood his responsibility as one of the
custodians of the bride of Christ.

His letter to the Corinthians Church clearly reveals this.
2 Corinthians 11:
1 Oh, that you would bear with me in a little folly--and indeed you do bear
with me.
2 For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to
one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
3 But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness,
so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
(NKJV).
As a bride of Christ, your love, devotion, affection, or commitment must
purely be towards your Husband, Lord or Master - Jesus Christ. Therefore,
don’t let anyone defile, defraud, or distract you from a sincere and pure
devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Likewise, Paul’s letter to the Colossians Church reveals this.

Colossians 1
24 I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is
lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the
church,
25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which
was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God,
26 the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now
has been revealed to His saints.
27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this
mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
28 Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom,
that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.
29 To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works
in me mightily. (NKJV).

How did Paul intend to present the Church as a chaste virgin to
Christ?

By preaching Jesus Christ!
By teaching the Gospel of Christ!
By warning the Church against false teachers!

1 Corinthians 2:
1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of
speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God.
2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and
Him crucified.
3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.
4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human
wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of
God. (NKJV).

Like Paul, presenting the believers as a chaste virgin or a pure bride to
Christ should be the ultimate goal, passion, and pursuit of every servant of
God. Sadly, this is not the goal, passion and pursuit of many servants of God
in our days.

Paul sharply rebukes the Galatians Church for turning away from the gospel
of the grace of Christ.

Galatians 1:
6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the
grace of Christ, to a different gospel,
7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to
pervert the gospel of Christ.
8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you
than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. (NKJV).

Similarly, Paul rebukes the Corinthians Church for embracing and putting
up with false teachers and apostles.

2 Corinthians 11:
3 But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness,
so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
4 For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or
if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different
gospel which you have not accepted--you may well put up with it! (NKJV).

Apparently, if Paul were to be alive today he would undoubtedly rebuke
today’s Church for supporting, embracing, and putting up with false
ministers who preach and teach a different gospel.

The minds of many believers today have been corrupted and led astray from
a sincere and pure devotion to Jesus Christ because of the teaching of false
ministers who preach and promote themselves, and teach “another gospel”
which is based on the works of the law and not on the finished work of Jesus
Christ.

Unlike Paul who wholly betrothed “the bride of Christ” entrusted to
his care to only one husband, the Lord Jesus Christ, many servants of God
today have betrothed, espoused, or married the believers (the bride of
Christ) placed in their custody to many husbands, lords, or masters, thereby
defiling the bride of Christ (2 Cor. 11:2).

Sadly, many servants of God today appointed to be custodians of the bride
of Christ are now subtly wooing, courting, or romancing the bride of Christ,
thereby defrauding, defiling, or violating the bride of Christ placed in
their custody.

These servants of God have subtly shifted or directed the love, devotion
and commitment of the believers in their custody from Jesus Christ and His
Kingdom towards themselves and the empires they are building.

Beloved, any servant of God who is not always preaching Jesus Christ to
you cannot present you as a pure bride to Christ. Similarly, any servant of
God who is not constantly teaching or proclaiming to you the gospel of the
grace of Christ cannot present you as a chaste virgin to the Lord Jesus
Christ.

Therefore, don’t support, accept, embrace, or put up with any servant of
God who is only preaching and proclaiming himself to you and not Jesus
Christ, and the law given through Moses and not the grace and truth which
came through Jesus Christ (John 1:17).

Friend, if you have been betrothed or espoused by any carnal servant of
God to another husband, lord, or master other than the Lord Jesus Christ;
rise up today to renounce the ungodly relationship and disentangle yourself
from the yoke of bondage (Gal. 5:1-3).

As a bride of Christ, your love, devotion, affection, or commitment must
purely be towards your Husband, Lord or Master - Jesus Christ. Therefore,
don’t let anyone defile, defraud, or distract you from a sincere and pure
devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Colossians 3:
1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above,
where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.
2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in
glory. (NKJV).

Prayer: My Dear Heavenly Father, I give You praise for choosing me as a
bride for Christ. My Dear Holy Spirit, teach and help me to keep myself as a
chaste virgin for my Lord Jesus Christ, in Jesus’ name. Amen.