In Gold of Ophir

The Bride will Stand "in Gold of Ophir"

Psalm 45: 9 "Kings' daughters were among thy honourable women: upon thyright hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir."

Gold is a type of the Divine Nature. The Bride of Christwill be arrayed in gold. She will have become a partaker of the DivineNature through the "exceeding great and precious promises" that God hasmade available to the believer. Scripture demands that "as we have bornethe image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly."

God takes the ashes of our lives and turns them into Gold.

There are king's daughters among many honorable women, butthe Queen stands alone in Gold of Ophir at the right hand of the King. TheBride of Christ will stand alone in gold (the Divine Nature) at the King's right hand.

In Gold

Gold is a pure metal -- Gold is an enduring metal -- only"Aqua regia," a special acid, will effect it -- Gold is an attractive metal --all men seek for gold.

Gold Speaks of Success

God wants you to be a success. God made no failures -- He is"Author and Finisher." When God made man, He took dust of the earth and made a masterpiece. The dust became gold ; the likeness of the Divine Nature ofGod. God is still taking dust and making gold .

-- From Dust To Gold --

God took Abram from a land of idolatry and wickedness (dust) and made him Abraham, the Father of the Faithful ( gold ). (Gen. 17: 1, 5)

God took Joseph from prison. His visions and dreams had turned to ashes. God took the ashes and turned them to gold. Joseph became Prime Minister of Egypt.

God took Moses from the backside of the desert, where his dreams had turned to ashes. God took the ashes and made him the deliverer ofHis people from Egyptian bondage; turned his ashes into gold.

God took David from his father's sheepfold. God took thisdust and turned it into gold and made him King of Israel.

God took Simon, a cussing fisherman, dust, and turned himinto gold and made him Peter, a Rock. Peter is one of the greatestApostles of all time.

God took Saul of Tarsus, a blaspheming rebellious Jew, dust,and turned this dust into gold and made him Paul the Apostle. Paul is one of the greatest preachers and writers of the Church.

Gold is a Type of the Divine Nature of God

We are instructed in the Word to be like God. "…As we haveborne… we shall also bear the image of the heavenly." "Put ye on the LordJesus Christ…" "…Partakers of the Divine Nature…"

God's Nature -- We are to have God's Nature. (Pure Gold)

I Pet. 1: 16 "Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy."

God's Power -- We are to have God's Power.

Eph. 1: 19 "…The exceeding greatness of His Power…"

God's Wisdom -- We are to have God's Wisdom.

Jas. 1: 5 "If any of you lack wisdom let him ask of God, that giveth toall men liberally…"

"In Gold of Ophir"

"Ophir" --means "Ashes"

Reduced to Ashes - Nothing but Ashes

This is thefeeling that all hope is gone. The dreams and the visions will never come topass.

Eating Ashes

David said his daily food was ashes.

Psalm 102: 9 "…I have eaten ashes like bread…"

David, in getting ready for the throne, experienced thefollowing:

Humiliations -- Discouragement -- Defeats -- Fears -- Failures --Unbelief

Isa. 44: 20 "He feedeth on ashes…"

Disappointment -- Discouragement -- "Ashes"

Sitting in Ashes

Job 2: 8 "…Sat down among the ashes."

It was as though Job resigned himself to his problem. Hegave up hope.

Job 42: 6 "…I…repent in dust and ashes."

Job 23: 10 "…When He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold."

Ashes to Gold

Troubles make doubters bitter , but will make believers better . Jesus said, "Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die(ashes) it abideth alone…" (Jn. 12: 24)

Do not Resign to Failure

Do not sit in your ashes. Do not look at the problem (the ashes). Look at the Promises of God (the Gold).

Gen. 18: 27 "…Abraham… said… I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord,which am but dust and ashes."

Out of ashes God made gold .

Isaiah said, "God will give unto them beauty for ashes."Gold is beautiful -- Do not quit -- Let God turn your ashes to gold .

Adversity can be an Advantage

A proper attitude toward adversity can make you -- not break you. When the darkness comes, don't curse the darkness, "Turn the lights on!"

Livingstone suffered twenty--four attacks of African Fever before he won more than one--million souls to the Lord. They came out of darkness.

John Bunyan found success in a prison cell. He wrote a most inspiring book, Pilgrim's Progress , in prison. He did not sit inhis ashes -- He let God turn them to gold .

Marian Anderson went to Washington D.C. to sing atConstitution Hall. Some decided the hall should not be available to anAfrican--American singer. So instead, she stood on the steps of the LincolnMemorial and sang to seventy--five thousand people. Constitution Hall only held about three thousand.

-- She turned her Ashes to Gold --

Abraham Lincoln, at the age of fifty, was a failure. He failed in the war -- he failed in business twice -- he failed in politics twice --yet he became President of The United States of America.

-- He turned his Ashes to Gold --

Let God Turn Your Ashes to Gold

Esther 4: 1 "When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry;"

Mordecai became ruler under the King at the age of thirty--two.

-- God turned his Ashes to Gold --

I laid over a casket and wept, I was a failure. Failure can be a stepping stone to victory. Learn to weave your thorns into a crown. This the Queen (the Bride of Christ) will do. "In Gold of Ophir."

II Tim. 2: 12 "If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him…"

I Pet. 5: 10 "But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you."

-- God will turn your Ashes to Gold --

Jesus said - Rev. 3: 18, "…Buy of Me Gold tried in the fire…"