Where is My Bride: Ep 5: The Exposed Bride: Shame Before the Groom

0:00 Music. Welcome to the Diary of a Black Woman podcast with your host, Connie Morris, where healing has a voice and truth is no longer silent. Father God, like Jabez, we cry out that thou would bless us indeed. Bless every woman listening beyond trauma, beyond limits, beyond what she thought was possible. Enlarge her territory. Expand her purpose. Let your hand be upon this moment. Saturate every word with oil and truth. break cycles, cancel every curse sent to silence her. This isn't just a podcast.

0:49 This is holy ground. In Jesus' name, amen. Hello, and welcome back to the Diary of a Black Woman podcast. I'm your host, Connie Morris, and we are continuing our prophetic series, where is my bride? We are in episode five, the exposed bride, shame before the groom. So, so far we've talked about the cry of the bridegroom, the stains of sin. The wrinkles of compromise, becoming a counterfeit bride. But today we're stepping into the most sobering parts of this journey, the shame of being exposed before the bridegroom.

1:33 Now that can be an embarrassing spot, right? So you've been told what to do, but you didn't do it. And then the day comes where you are exposed. We all have that day. And what happens on that day, right? So think about this right here, the parable of the wise and foolish virgins. I mentioned this in several episodes back, but I want to bring it before you again because I want you to get a full picture of it. The wise and foolish virgins, on the surface, they all were alike. They all had the same plan. they were on the mission to wait for the bridegroom, right? They all carry lamps.

2:22 They all wore wedding garments. They all went out to meet the bridegroom. They all thought they were prepared. So on the surface, they appear to be prepared. But when the moment of truth came, something was missing. The foolish virgin had the appearance of readiness, but no oil. Beloved, there is no greater shame than standing before the bridegroom, the very one our souls were made for, and then realizing you are not ready. Wow. The one thing that happened with those virgins, the foolish and the wise, that one thought it wasn't going to take all that, so they didn't bring any extra oil.

3:11 But the wise versions said, whatever it takes, I'm going to be prepared. Even if he's late, I'm going to bring extra oil. So we have to weigh out embarrassment here. One was ready and one was not. One was prepared and one was unprepared. Remember, they both had the same heart. We're going to wait for our bridegroom. But the point is, how long are you planning to wait? One came without oil. And so they had to run off. You got to read the stories in Matthew 25. I read a couple verses, but you need to read the whole, you know, the whole scriptures on it.

3:52 And then one, the foolish virgins had to run off to get more oil because they didn't come prepare. So let's go to scripture right away. Matthew 25 verses 10 to 12. It says, but while they were on their way to buy oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet, and the door was shut. Later, the others also came. Lord, Lord, they said, open the door for us. But he replied, truly, I tell you, I don't know you. Now, that's the feeling I felt when the image came, when the bridegroom was before the groom, and he was standing there and she was standing there and he says, where is my bride?

4:41 Where is my bride? Because she has spotted a wrinkle on her. He did not know her. He did not know her. And so this is so true to heart that the bride, the foolish virgin and the wise virgin, They all had the plan to wait for the bridegroom. The question was, how long? One was ready to wait. The wives were ready to wait for however long, but the foolish weren't. And when they left to go buy oil, guess what? They missed him. Let's go to Revelation 16, 15. It says, look, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him so that he will not go naked and shamefully exposed.

5:31 These scriptures paint a picture of urgency and warning. The foolish virgins weren't evil. They were simply unprepared. They had the garments and the lamps, but they lacked the oil of intimacy. And when the bridegroom came, it was too late. Revelation warns us that Christ is coming like a thief, suddenly without announcement. The blessings belong to those who stay awake, clothed and watchful. The shame belongs to those who look ready outwardly but are empty inwardly. This isn't about fear. It's about reality. Outward appearances can fool people, but they cannot fool the bridegroom.

6:21 When the door closes, titles don't matter. Reputations won't matter. The only thing that matters is intimacy with him. The question I have for you is, are you ready? Are you prepared? Are you prepared to wait for the long haul? Are you keeping your lamps full with oil? The greatest strategy is not that people see our flaws. The deepest shame is missing the bridegroom himself. Wow. The foolish virgins represented believers who were busy with the church activities, glowing with outward glamour, but lacking oil, the presence of the Spirit, the life of intimacy.

7:08 They cried out, Lord, Lord, open the door. But he said, I do not know you. Don't that hurt? You've done everything right according to the church standards, but not according to God's So this is a warning. If it is possible to look the part, to sound the part, and to still miss him. And yet, even in this sobering truth, God's mercy speaks. The door is not yet shut. The bridegroom is still calling. Today is the day to repent, to seek oil, and to pursue intimacy.

7:50 Oh my God, you are so, so good. You have not closed the door. You are still crying out, where is my bride? You are still telling those who are not ready to get ready, and you are telling them to stay ready. I hope and pray that they are listening. Some questions to ask yourself. Am I satisfied with outward religion while neglecting intimacy with Christ. Is going to church enough just to please your pastor, your church leader, or are you searching for more? Am I living in the urgency so the bridegroom could return at any moment?

8:31 If he was to return today, tomorrow, tonight. Are you ready? But if he's late, are you still ready? And what would be more devastating to me, people seeing my flaws or Christ saying, I do not know you. Let's pray. Father, in the name of Jesus, we don't want to miss you. I don't want to be left outside while the door is still shut. Forgive us for chasing the appearance of readiness while neglecting intimacy with you. Fill us with fresh oil. Keep us awake and watchful. Clothe us in righteousness so that when you come, we will be ready.

9:12 We decree that I will not be caught unprepared. We will not be caught unprepared. We will not stand in shame outside the door. Our lamps are filled with oil. Our garments are white. Our hearts are waiting in love from our bridegroom. When he comes, we will enter with him. In Jesus' name, amen. Thank you for joining me on this day, this Diary of Black Women podcast. That was episode five of our series, Where is My Bride? Next time, we'll lift up our eyes to hope. We'll talk about the bride made ready. Clothed in fine linen, bright and clean, prepared not for her own strength, but by the Spirit of God.

9:58 Until then, stay awake, stay ready. Let the oil of His presence fill your lamp. And I'll see you on the next episode. Thank you for listening to this episode. And before we close out, I want to speak a word of promise over you from Jeremiah 29, 11 through 14. Father God, you declared, I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future. So today we receive that truth. You said when we call on you, you will listen. So we pray. You said that when we seek you with our hearts, you will be found. So we pursue.

10:41 You said you will restore us from captivity. So we declare freedom over every place where our listeners feel stuck, silenced, or small. Thank you for always drawing near when we show up in faith. In Jesus' name, amen. Music.