IF THERE ARE WRINKLES AND DEFECT IN THE BRIDE, IT’S THE BRIDEGROOM’S FAULT:

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless”. Eph.5: 25-27

That he might sanctify her, cleansed her with the Word. The immediate object of Christ was to cleanse her, and for this end he used the Word as a purifying agent, washing her by means of it. He finds her with spots and wrinkles, and his great instrument of cleansing is "the Word" - the Word in all its searching, humbling, rebuking, correcting, informing, stimulating, refreshing, consoling power. The Bridegroom does this before the marriage and not after. Just like in the Old Testament, all brides undergone a Bridal bath before marriage which is called “Mikvah”. The purpose is to allow her to enter her marriage in a pure state. The woman is showered and all articles such as rings, bandages, hairpins and even nail polish were removed. This is to assure that there is no barrier between the water and all of her body parts. Her hair is then combed, and her body checked to be free of loose hair. Then the bride-to-be is dunked in a bath and is blessed after completely coming to an upright position. This should be done as close to the date of the wedding as possible, and at least one clean day after menstruation.

So many of us missed this part before getting marry and now struggling to fix things but it seem not to work. This means that any bridegroom who is not mature than the bride in the Word of God, should not be qualify for marriage. Because the wrong man will spoil you, the right man will set you apart for the glory of God.

The Bible said, as Christ sanctify His bride, so shall a man sanctify his bride with the Word. What is sanctification? From Greek hagoazo, it means “a process by which believers are made holy; to set apart for the services of God; a separation from ordinary use to a sacred purpose; to separate from something for God’s glory”. 

It is the mandate of the Bridegroom to bring his bride into living contact with the truth, whereby both of them are led to yield obedience "to the commands, and embracing the promises of God for this life and that which is to come. That’s why Paul encouraged husbands to dwell with their wives “with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered”. 1 Peter 3:7. A devoted Bridegroom will not wait until after marriage before he gives honour to the bride and work together as heirs of the grace of life. He does it before and after marriage. It’s a continues process until he presents her before Christ as a glorious bride without wrinkle or blemishes.

Are you a sanctified Bride and Bridegroom? What is hindering your prayers and worship to God? How many relationship today are set apart to the glory of God without immorality? How many bridegroom takes the bride to Christian programs, attend prayer meetings, marriage seminars etc? You have time to go to the beach, to restaurant and boutiques, to travel abroad for pleasure, but do you have time to pray and fast together?

Listen to Paul’s admonition in 1 Thess 4:3-5, “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5 not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God” Another version of the Bible put it in a more simplified way, it said “It is God's will that you keep away from sexual sin as a mark of your devotion to him. 4 Each of you should know that finding a husband or wife for yourself is to be done in a holy and honorable way, 5 not in the passionate, lustful way of people who don't know God”. Wow, that your quest for marriage should be “done in a holy and honourable way” so that God will be glory in the marriage.