I am the Bride of Christ

by John Tilton on September 14, 2026

SCRIPTURE:

“Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean was given her to wear. Then the angel said to me, ‘Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the lamb! And he added, ‘These are the true words of God.””

Revelation 19:7-9

 

OBSERVATION:

Oh to know what awaits us as the brides of Christ. We indeed must be prepared and make ourselves ready for the wedding of the Lamb to join Jesus for eternity. Our preparation is what the Bible tells us clearly to do - accept Jesus as our Savior, study and stay obedient to His Word, commune with Him through prayer, and serve Him in expectation of His return to rapture us where we will be caught up in the air to live with Him eternally.

APPLICATION:

I think of myself as a decent dresser, unless I’m hanging in Waimanalo.  What determines the extent of my preparation and dressing up is usually based on how I’d like to present myself to be seen in expectation of what people will think of me. How much more than should I prepare for my Savior? Rather than what people will think of my attire, am I ready for Christ in what is expected of me in obedience and walking in His will and ways. I’ve often observed the most special moment of a wedding is when the bridegroom sees his bride coming toward him to the altar. My heart’s desire is to know that as I/we are united with Jesus Christ, that He would look upon us with adoration for how we’ve lived our lives.

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, as we’ve celebrated our 31st Anniversary to honor 31 years of you moving in your mighty ways; may I prepare to celebrate the most amazing celebration of all - your return for your bride, the believers in you and who have received you as Savior.  I pray to do my best in preparing and adorning myself with fine linen by doing your will in obedience and serving others in acts of righteousness. THANK YOU for loving me so much that you gave your life for me so that I would be redeemed to be your bride.

About the Author

John Tilton

Senior Pastor John Tilton has served at New Hope Oahu since it’s launch in 1995, and has been on staff in administration and as executive pastor for the past 14 years. The values and heart behind New Hope run deeply through Pastor John’s veins as he has trained, learned, and was mentored closely by Pastor Wayne.

A graduate of Kamehameha Schools Kapālama and the University of Hawaii at Mānoa, Pastor John holds his Masters in Formational Leadership from Lancaster Bible College & Capital Seminary. He has served in various leadership, mentorship, and advisory roles in ministry and in the marketplace. He currently serves as Vice President of New Hope International and is on the Board of Directors of both Pacific Rim Christian University and New Hope Christian College. 

Pastor John is married to his amazing wife Lanu, is father to his son Ikaika, daughter Malie, son-in-law Noni, is Papa to his grandchildren Justice, Johanna, and Jordynn, all of whom serve in ministry as a family together at New Hope Oahu.

Pastor John’s heart is to love and shepherd the people of New Hope Oahu––both here on Oahu and globally across the world. He will seek to continue to develop leaders, enable people here to dream with vision and purpose for God’s unique call on their lives, and, most importantly, to seek God as He faithfully guides our church so that we can fully become the church, and the people, He has created and called us to be.

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