1 00:00:00,985 --> 00:00:03,267 Okay, well, I would have you turn 2 00:00:03,267 --> 00:00:09,155 once again to the Song of Solomon. 3 00:00:09,155 --> 00:00:11,546 A little book of 8 chapters right before 4 00:00:11,546 --> 00:00:15,798 the major prophet Isaiah. 5 00:00:15,798 --> 00:00:19,382 After the Proverbs and Ecclesiastes 6 00:00:19,382 --> 00:00:30,463 you will find the Song of Solomon. 7 00:00:30,463 --> 00:00:34,905 We are actually in the midst of a study 8 00:00:34,905 --> 00:00:37,699 of the book of Ephesians, 9 00:00:37,699 --> 00:00:41,728 but there is a place in chapter 3 of Ephesians 10 00:00:41,728 --> 00:00:45,645 where the apostle tells the Ephesians 11 00:00:45,645 --> 00:00:47,288 that he is praying for them 12 00:00:47,288 --> 00:00:51,143 and how he bends the knee before His Father, 13 00:00:51,143 --> 00:00:54,182 and what it is that he lifts up. 14 00:00:54,182 --> 00:00:56,272 And his desire is this, 15 00:00:56,272 --> 00:01:00,048 that God according to the riches of His glory 16 00:01:00,048 --> 00:01:02,359 would do something in these Ephesians. 17 00:01:02,359 --> 00:01:05,402 And it specifically has to do with the love of Christ. 18 00:01:05,402 --> 00:01:09,888 He wants them to be strengthened with power 19 00:01:09,888 --> 00:01:14,550 by the Spirit in their inner being. 20 00:01:14,550 --> 00:01:17,504 He wants them to be able to comprehend 21 00:01:17,504 --> 00:01:20,843 what the breadth and length 22 00:01:20,843 --> 00:01:23,064 and height and depth 23 00:01:23,064 --> 00:01:24,909 and to know the love of Christ 24 00:01:24,909 --> 00:01:31,040 that surpasses understanding or knowledge. 25 00:01:31,040 --> 00:01:34,509 And one of the ways that I'm wanting 26 00:01:34,509 --> 00:01:36,783 to help bring that out - 27 00:01:36,783 --> 00:01:38,705 if the Lord will allow that to happen - 28 00:01:38,705 --> 00:01:41,672 is by taking us to the Song of Solomon. 29 00:01:41,672 --> 00:01:43,894 Right here at the beginning, 30 00:01:43,894 --> 00:01:46,082 you can just move your eyes 31 00:01:46,082 --> 00:01:50,336 to Song of Solomon 1:15. 32 00:01:50,336 --> 00:01:52,290 I mentioned this last week and told you 33 00:01:52,290 --> 00:01:57,986 that I'd be going back here. 34 00:01:57,986 --> 00:02:02,365 "Behold, you are beautiful, My love. 35 00:02:02,365 --> 00:02:04,641 Behold, you are beautiful. 36 00:02:04,641 --> 00:02:09,899 Your eyes are doves." 37 00:02:09,899 --> 00:02:17,705 Now, I thought that perhaps I would just start - 38 00:02:17,705 --> 00:02:20,078 this is not inspired, 39 00:02:20,078 --> 00:02:24,080 but I think nevertheless helpful. 40 00:02:24,080 --> 00:02:31,266 Charles Spurgeon in his introductory remarks 41 00:02:31,266 --> 00:02:34,457 to a message that he preached from the Song of Solomon. 42 00:02:34,457 --> 00:02:38,847 And I don't exactly remember what verse it was he was preaching on, 43 00:02:38,847 --> 00:02:42,443 but he had an introduction to the message. 44 00:02:42,443 --> 00:02:46,315 And these are the things that he said. 45 00:02:46,315 --> 00:02:48,872 Spurgeon: 46 00:02:48,872 --> 00:02:52,200 "Certain theologians have doubted 47 00:02:52,200 --> 00:02:55,636 the inspiration of Solomon's Song. 48 00:02:55,636 --> 00:03:00,322 Others have conceived it to be nothing more 49 00:03:00,322 --> 00:03:03,659 than a specimen of ancient love songs. 50 00:03:03,659 --> 00:03:05,786 Some have been afraid to preach from it 51 00:03:05,786 --> 00:03:08,299 because of it's highly poetical character." 52 00:03:08,299 --> 00:03:10,702 And I think what he means by highly poetical 53 00:03:10,702 --> 00:03:14,220 is its sensual character. 54 00:03:14,220 --> 00:03:16,047 Now listen to this. 55 00:03:16,047 --> 00:03:18,519 In his estimation, 56 00:03:18,519 --> 00:03:24,072 "the true reason for why men avoid 57 00:03:24,072 --> 00:03:28,179 one of the most heavenly portions of God's Word 58 00:03:28,179 --> 00:03:32,939 lies in the fact that the spirit of this song 59 00:03:32,939 --> 00:03:35,898 is not easily attained. 60 00:03:35,898 --> 00:03:39,360 Its music belongs to a higher spiritual life 61 00:03:39,360 --> 00:03:44,841 and has no charm in it for unspiritual ears. 62 00:03:44,841 --> 00:03:48,400 The Song of Solomon occupies a sacred enclosure 63 00:03:48,400 --> 00:03:51,060 into which none may enter unprepared. 64 00:03:51,060 --> 00:03:53,358 'Put off thy shoes from off they feet, 65 00:03:53,358 --> 00:03:56,947 for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground,' 66 00:03:56,947 --> 00:04:00,925 is the warning voice from its secret tabernacles." 67 00:04:00,925 --> 00:04:06,528 Now listen, he looks at all of the books in the Bible 68 00:04:06,528 --> 00:04:08,778 and he says this: 69 00:04:08,778 --> 00:04:12,544 "The historical books of the Bible, 70 00:04:12,544 --> 00:04:17,333 I may compare to the outer courts of the temple." 71 00:04:17,333 --> 00:04:21,857 He says, "the Gospels, the epistles, 72 00:04:21,857 --> 00:04:26,290 and the Psalms bring us into the holy place 73 00:04:26,290 --> 00:04:28,875 or the court of the priests. 74 00:04:28,875 --> 00:04:33,680 But the Song of Solomon is the most holy place - 75 00:04:33,680 --> 00:04:35,689 the holy of holies, 76 00:04:35,689 --> 00:04:38,599 before which the veil still hangs 77 00:04:38,599 --> 00:04:42,603 to many an untaught believer. 78 00:04:42,603 --> 00:04:45,663 It's not all the saints who can enter here. 79 00:04:45,663 --> 00:04:49,464 For they have not yet attained unto the holy confidence of faith, 80 00:04:49,464 --> 00:04:52,464 and that exceeding familiarity of love 81 00:04:52,464 --> 00:04:54,770 which will permit them to commune 82 00:04:54,770 --> 00:04:57,686 in conjugal love with the great Bridegroom. 83 00:04:57,686 --> 00:05:01,985 The Song is in truth a book for full grown Christians. 84 00:05:01,985 --> 00:05:04,755 It takes a man who has leaned his head 85 00:05:04,755 --> 00:05:06,714 upon the bosom of his Master 86 00:05:06,714 --> 00:05:09,164 and been baptized with His baptism 87 00:05:09,164 --> 00:05:11,385 to ascend the lofty mountains of love 88 00:05:11,385 --> 00:05:15,081 on which the spouse stands with her Beloved. 89 00:05:15,081 --> 00:05:17,560 The Song of Solomon from the first verse 90 00:05:17,560 --> 00:05:20,416 to the last will be clear to those 91 00:05:20,416 --> 00:05:25,448 who have received an unction from the Holy One. 92 00:05:25,448 --> 00:05:28,416 You're aware, dear friends, 93 00:05:28,416 --> 00:05:32,808 that there are very few commentaries 94 00:05:32,808 --> 00:05:36,167 upon the epistles of John, 95 00:05:36,167 --> 00:05:39,459 where we find 50 commentaries upon the book of Saint Paul, 96 00:05:39,459 --> 00:05:42,269 you will hardly find one upon John. 97 00:05:42,269 --> 00:05:45,287 Why is that? Is the book too difficult? 98 00:05:45,287 --> 00:05:46,567 The words are very simple. 99 00:05:46,567 --> 00:05:48,490 There's hardly a word of four syllables 100 00:05:48,490 --> 00:05:50,314 anywhere in John's epistles. 101 00:05:50,314 --> 00:05:54,983 Ah, but they are so saturated through and through 102 00:05:54,983 --> 00:05:56,822 with the spirit of love 103 00:05:56,822 --> 00:06:01,243 which also perfumes the book of Solomon, 104 00:06:01,243 --> 00:06:02,849 that those who are not taught 105 00:06:02,849 --> 00:06:05,650 in the school of communion cry out, 106 00:06:05,650 --> 00:06:09,404 'we cannot read it, for it's sealed.' 107 00:06:09,404 --> 00:06:11,809 The Song of Solomon is a golden casket 108 00:06:11,809 --> 00:06:15,256 of which love is the key rather than learning. 109 00:06:15,256 --> 00:06:19,270 Those who have not attained unto heights of affection; 110 00:06:19,270 --> 00:06:23,163 those who have not been educated by familiar intercourse with Jesus 111 00:06:23,163 --> 00:06:26,155 cannot come near to this mine of treasure 112 00:06:26,155 --> 00:06:28,314 seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living 113 00:06:28,314 --> 00:06:31,394 and kept closed from the fouls of heaven. 114 00:06:31,394 --> 00:06:34,937 Oh for the soaring eagle wing of John; 115 00:06:34,937 --> 00:06:39,077 oh for the seeing dove's eyes of Solomon. 116 00:06:39,077 --> 00:06:43,674 But the most of us are blind and cannot see afar off." 117 00:06:43,674 --> 00:06:44,994 And you know what he prays? 118 00:06:44,994 --> 00:06:46,665 He basically prays for his people 119 00:06:46,665 --> 00:06:51,135 that day much like Paul prays 120 00:06:51,135 --> 00:06:53,595 there in Ephesians 3, 121 00:06:53,595 --> 00:06:56,917 "may God be pleased to make us grow in grace 122 00:06:56,917 --> 00:06:59,526 and give us so much of the Holy Spirit 123 00:06:59,526 --> 00:07:01,686 that with feet like hinds' feet, 124 00:07:01,686 --> 00:07:04,872 we may stand upon the high places of Scripture 125 00:07:04,872 --> 00:07:09,045 and this morning have some near and dear intercourse 126 00:07:09,045 --> 00:07:14,268 with Christ Jesus." 127 00:07:14,268 --> 00:07:16,653 The Song of Solomon. 128 00:07:16,653 --> 00:07:20,104 This is not a book to come to 129 00:07:20,104 --> 00:07:23,870 if you're simply looking for expositions of correct doctrine. 130 00:07:23,870 --> 00:07:25,365 That is most true. 131 00:07:25,365 --> 00:07:27,675 There is correct doctrine here, 132 00:07:27,675 --> 00:07:31,961 but it's not for the cold; 133 00:07:31,961 --> 00:07:37,905 it's not for the dry; it's not for the academic. 134 00:07:37,905 --> 00:07:40,825 Song of Songs. 135 00:07:40,825 --> 00:07:43,073 Holy of holies. 136 00:07:43,073 --> 00:07:46,001 Undoubtedly, Spurgeon's right at that point. 137 00:07:46,001 --> 00:07:48,821 I want to tread carefully here. 138 00:07:48,821 --> 00:07:52,795 So that being said by way of introduction, 139 00:07:52,795 --> 00:07:56,542 I just want you to think of the theme here. 140 00:07:56,542 --> 00:08:06,938 Look at chapter 1:4. 141 00:08:06,938 --> 00:08:10,405 This is the bride: 142 00:08:10,405 --> 00:08:14,794 "Draw me after You." 143 00:08:14,794 --> 00:08:18,223 And notice how the bride 144 00:08:18,223 --> 00:08:23,773 kind of goes from singular to plural. 145 00:08:23,773 --> 00:08:26,573 That's how it is. 146 00:08:26,573 --> 00:08:29,615 I can speak on very personal terms 147 00:08:29,615 --> 00:08:31,659 about Christ's love to me. 148 00:08:31,659 --> 00:08:36,236 I can pray to Him, "Draw me, 149 00:08:36,236 --> 00:08:38,720 but let us run." 150 00:08:38,720 --> 00:08:42,925 It opens up into a plurality. 151 00:08:42,925 --> 00:08:44,882 But notice this: these are the two words 152 00:08:44,882 --> 00:08:46,327 I want you to see right here. 153 00:08:46,327 --> 00:08:51,525 "The King has brought me into His chambers." 154 00:08:51,525 --> 00:08:53,167 There's a King. 155 00:08:53,167 --> 00:08:57,073 This is a book about a King. 156 00:08:57,073 --> 00:08:59,042 And it's precisely this King 157 00:08:59,042 --> 00:09:02,254 who utters those words that we just read 158 00:09:02,254 --> 00:09:04,608 in Song of Solomon 1:15. 159 00:09:04,608 --> 00:09:06,792 Go back there. 160 00:09:06,792 --> 00:09:11,281 This is the King. 161 00:09:11,281 --> 00:09:14,832 This is kingly expression. 162 00:09:14,832 --> 00:09:19,586 The King of Kings: "Behold, you are beautiful, My love. 163 00:09:19,586 --> 00:09:23,620 Behold, you are beautiful." 164 00:09:23,620 --> 00:09:26,324 Who's He speaking to? 165 00:09:26,324 --> 00:09:32,262 Now, I want you to see this woman. 166 00:09:32,262 --> 00:09:35,927 Notice chapter 1:6. 167 00:09:35,927 --> 00:09:40,063 And again, I would say to you, 168 00:09:40,063 --> 00:09:43,770 this cannot be taken literally. 169 00:09:43,770 --> 00:09:48,971 King Solomon did not have wives 170 00:09:48,971 --> 00:09:51,627 who were being abused by their brothers, 171 00:09:51,627 --> 00:09:55,799 who were being forced to keep vineyards. 172 00:09:55,799 --> 00:09:57,812 That would never have happened. 173 00:09:57,812 --> 00:10:00,963 But when you think about the picture 174 00:10:00,963 --> 00:10:03,269 of this being the church - 175 00:10:03,269 --> 00:10:05,479 just think with me here. 176 00:10:05,479 --> 00:10:07,936 Song of Solomon 1:6. 177 00:10:07,936 --> 00:10:14,623 She says, "do not gaze at me because I am dark." 178 00:10:14,623 --> 00:10:17,967 In some sense, the church can say that. 179 00:10:17,967 --> 00:10:22,631 I am dark. How? 180 00:10:22,631 --> 00:10:25,270 We'll touch on that in a second, but listen to this: 181 00:10:25,270 --> 00:10:28,248 "...Because the sun has looked upon me. 182 00:10:28,248 --> 00:10:31,187 My mother's sons were angry with me. 183 00:10:31,187 --> 00:10:35,716 They made me keeper of the vineyards, 184 00:10:35,716 --> 00:10:38,900 but my own vineyard I have not kept." 185 00:10:38,900 --> 00:10:45,978 She is a tender of vineyards in the sun, 186 00:10:45,978 --> 00:10:48,430 in the heat of the sun. 187 00:10:48,430 --> 00:10:49,702 Just tuck that one away. 188 00:10:49,702 --> 00:10:51,850 Go to v. 7. 189 00:10:51,850 --> 00:10:55,707 "Tell me, You who my soul loves, 190 00:10:55,707 --> 00:10:57,526 where You pasture Your flock." 191 00:10:57,526 --> 00:10:59,748 And go to v. 8, He answers, 192 00:10:59,748 --> 00:11:02,928 "If you do not know, O most beautiful among women, 193 00:11:02,928 --> 00:11:05,186 follow in the tracks of the flock 194 00:11:05,186 --> 00:11:09,407 and pasture your young goats 195 00:11:09,407 --> 00:11:11,597 beside the shepherd's tents." 196 00:11:11,597 --> 00:11:16,188 So she's a tender of vineyards. 197 00:11:16,188 --> 00:11:19,959 She is also a shepherdess. 198 00:11:19,959 --> 00:11:24,046 But then let's go back. Look at v. 5. 199 00:11:24,046 --> 00:11:29,526 "I am very dark." 200 00:11:29,526 --> 00:11:31,820 She isn't dark because she's an Ethiopian 201 00:11:31,820 --> 00:11:33,567 or from some African country. 202 00:11:33,567 --> 00:11:36,340 She specifically says why she's dark. 203 00:11:36,340 --> 00:11:40,428 Notice: she's dark because the sun 204 00:11:40,428 --> 00:11:42,536 has looked on her. 205 00:11:42,536 --> 00:11:44,032 What does that tell us? 206 00:11:44,032 --> 00:11:47,722 She's not from among the ranks of the pampered. 207 00:11:47,722 --> 00:11:51,853 She's accustomed to work. 208 00:11:51,853 --> 00:11:55,597 She's unaccustomed to being spoiled 209 00:11:55,597 --> 00:11:57,840 in the lap of luxury and palaces 210 00:11:57,840 --> 00:11:59,852 and covered carriages. 211 00:11:59,852 --> 00:12:03,923 She's acquainted with the fields and the farms. 212 00:12:03,923 --> 00:12:09,237 Now, I don't know much about this, 213 00:12:09,237 --> 00:12:15,324 but I do know that like when the kings of England, 214 00:12:15,324 --> 00:12:17,208 when the princes, 215 00:12:17,208 --> 00:12:20,836 when they marry girls who are not royalty, 216 00:12:20,836 --> 00:12:22,582 that gets attention. 217 00:12:22,582 --> 00:12:26,859 Like Prince Harry, she may be an actress, 218 00:12:26,859 --> 00:12:30,059 but she's a commoner. 219 00:12:30,059 --> 00:12:33,802 And wasn't that the case with his brother too? 220 00:12:33,802 --> 00:12:36,506 She wasn't royalty was she? 221 00:12:36,506 --> 00:12:38,418 Wasn't that the case with dad? 222 00:12:38,418 --> 00:12:42,516 (incomplete thought) 223 00:12:42,516 --> 00:12:45,959 But it gets people's attention. 224 00:12:45,959 --> 00:12:48,228 Maybe it's become more of a common thing, 225 00:12:48,228 --> 00:12:50,181 but the thing I want you to see here 226 00:12:50,181 --> 00:12:56,589 is this King has set His love upon a commoner. 227 00:12:56,589 --> 00:12:59,089 Oh, that's good news. 228 00:12:59,089 --> 00:13:04,103 No matter how she might be, 229 00:13:04,103 --> 00:13:08,553 there's one thing in this little 8 chapter book 230 00:13:08,553 --> 00:13:10,347 that you just cannot miss 231 00:13:10,347 --> 00:13:12,293 throughout the whole Song of Solomon. 232 00:13:12,293 --> 00:13:15,910 The King finds this lowly girl 233 00:13:15,910 --> 00:13:18,013 ravishingly beautiful, 234 00:13:18,013 --> 00:13:20,683 and He keeps saying that - just look here: 235 00:13:20,683 --> 00:13:22,553 v. 15 where we already looked, 236 00:13:22,553 --> 00:13:28,857 "Behold, you are beautiful." 237 00:13:28,857 --> 00:13:32,976 You know, typically in very cultured circles - 238 00:13:32,976 --> 00:13:35,368 especially in ancient times, 239 00:13:35,368 --> 00:13:41,743 the lighter the skin complexion 240 00:13:41,743 --> 00:13:45,454 because they weren't in the sun, 241 00:13:45,454 --> 00:13:48,372 there's something almost desirable about that. 242 00:13:48,372 --> 00:13:53,389 And here's a girl that's dark, 243 00:13:53,389 --> 00:13:58,696 and He finds her ravishingly beautiful. 244 00:13:58,696 --> 00:14:01,175 "Behold, you are beautiful." 245 00:14:01,175 --> 00:14:03,249 And if you backtrack a little bit 246 00:14:03,249 --> 00:14:06,705 back to v. 8 - we just read this. 247 00:14:06,705 --> 00:14:09,430 "Most beautiful..." 248 00:14:09,430 --> 00:14:12,933 "Most beautiful among women," v. 8. 249 00:14:12,933 --> 00:14:15,852 And look at 2:2 - this is the title of my message. 250 00:14:15,852 --> 00:14:20,406 I called this "A Lily Among Brambles." 251 00:14:20,406 --> 00:14:23,699 "As a lily among brambles, so is My love 252 00:14:23,699 --> 00:14:26,577 among the young women." 253 00:14:26,577 --> 00:14:28,816 I mean, do you realize what that's saying? 254 00:14:28,816 --> 00:14:32,392 The King is not saying to His church 255 00:14:32,392 --> 00:14:38,607 that she is a lily among lesser flowers. 256 00:14:38,607 --> 00:14:40,566 You see that? The truth is God's people 257 00:14:40,566 --> 00:14:42,922 stand out from the rest of mankind 258 00:14:42,922 --> 00:14:45,816 like a beautiful flower stands out - 259 00:14:45,816 --> 00:14:48,172 not from flowers of lesser beauty, 260 00:14:48,172 --> 00:14:51,407 but from weeds, from brambles, 261 00:14:51,407 --> 00:14:53,127 from briars. 262 00:14:53,127 --> 00:14:55,091 That's the picture. 263 00:14:55,091 --> 00:14:57,028 What we have to recognize is this, 264 00:14:57,028 --> 00:15:00,065 you are either most beautiful 265 00:15:00,065 --> 00:15:02,619 or you're briar. 266 00:15:02,619 --> 00:15:05,586 There's no middle ground here. 267 00:15:05,586 --> 00:15:06,919 It's one or the other. 268 00:15:06,919 --> 00:15:10,723 Again, that imagery 269 00:15:10,723 --> 00:15:12,948 doesn't really work in this world. 270 00:15:12,948 --> 00:15:15,622 Because as far as beauty goes, 271 00:15:15,622 --> 00:15:17,198 there's a whole spectrum. 272 00:15:17,198 --> 00:15:19,936 But here, this King is saying 273 00:15:19,936 --> 00:15:26,016 either lily or bramble. 274 00:15:26,016 --> 00:15:27,611 No in-between. 275 00:15:27,611 --> 00:15:32,653 Look at Song of Solomon 4:1. 276 00:15:32,653 --> 00:15:34,896 He just can't quit saying it. 277 00:15:34,896 --> 00:15:36,626 "Behold, you are beautiful, My love. 278 00:15:36,626 --> 00:15:38,799 Behold, you are beautiful." 279 00:15:38,799 --> 00:15:45,024 And if all that wasn't enough, look at 4:7. 280 00:15:45,024 --> 00:15:46,802 I mean, there's two expressions here. 281 00:15:46,802 --> 00:15:48,837 What could we say 282 00:15:48,837 --> 00:15:51,167 if you could really embrace this? 283 00:15:51,167 --> 00:15:56,472 Christ says this to you, Christian. 284 00:15:56,472 --> 00:16:02,907 "You're altogether beautiful, My love." 285 00:16:02,907 --> 00:16:05,137 And then not just beautiful. 286 00:16:05,137 --> 00:16:09,623 He said you're beautiful altogether. 287 00:16:09,623 --> 00:16:13,410 And He examines her and says, 288 00:16:13,410 --> 00:16:15,675 "You're perfect." 289 00:16:15,675 --> 00:16:17,962 "There's no flaw..." 290 00:16:17,962 --> 00:16:22,787 Brethren, my goal is still the same 291 00:16:22,787 --> 00:16:24,875 ever since the beginning of this. 292 00:16:24,875 --> 00:16:28,886 It is: Father, You had Paul pray, 293 00:16:28,886 --> 00:16:31,426 according to the riches of Your glory, 294 00:16:31,426 --> 00:16:34,350 have these people to be strengthened 295 00:16:34,350 --> 00:16:36,784 so that they can comprehend something 296 00:16:36,784 --> 00:16:40,558 of the love that Christ has for them 297 00:16:40,558 --> 00:16:42,207 that surpasses all knowledge. 298 00:16:42,207 --> 00:16:44,447 Christian, may God give you the ability 299 00:16:44,447 --> 00:16:47,178 to comprehend that these are thoughts 300 00:16:47,178 --> 00:16:50,163 that Christ has towards you. 301 00:16:50,163 --> 00:16:52,496 How many true Christians here among us 302 00:16:52,496 --> 00:16:57,603 truly believe that Christ looks at us 303 00:16:57,603 --> 00:17:00,263 with such thoughts as these? 304 00:17:00,263 --> 00:17:02,227 "You're altogether beautiful, My love. 305 00:17:02,227 --> 00:17:05,529 There is no flaw in you." 306 00:17:05,529 --> 00:17:07,864 Brethren, do you realize 307 00:17:07,864 --> 00:17:11,974 what the blood of Christ is? 308 00:17:11,974 --> 00:17:14,339 It's beautifying blood. 309 00:17:14,339 --> 00:17:16,922 We think of it as cleansing. 310 00:17:16,922 --> 00:17:19,122 Yes, indeed it does that. 311 00:17:19,122 --> 00:17:21,267 We think of it as washing. 312 00:17:21,267 --> 00:17:23,776 But you have to remember something. 313 00:17:23,776 --> 00:17:29,051 It really does cleanse. 314 00:17:29,051 --> 00:17:30,607 You know what it is to cleanse? 315 00:17:30,607 --> 00:17:36,058 It means the water takes the dirt away. 316 00:17:36,058 --> 00:17:38,137 The blood really does that. 317 00:17:38,137 --> 00:17:42,106 It really removes every single stain 318 00:17:42,106 --> 00:17:44,977 and spot and blemish. 319 00:17:44,977 --> 00:17:46,826 Every one of them. 320 00:17:46,826 --> 00:17:49,328 We think of it as washing. 321 00:17:49,328 --> 00:17:52,178 It does wash, but recognize it for all that it is. 322 00:17:52,178 --> 00:17:54,236 It is beautifying blood. 323 00:17:54,236 --> 00:17:56,355 The blood of Jesus Christ 324 00:17:56,355 --> 00:17:58,667 washes us beautiful. 325 00:17:58,667 --> 00:17:59,947 We don't often think that, 326 00:17:59,947 --> 00:18:01,405 but that's what you get here. 327 00:18:01,405 --> 00:18:02,838 And I think Spurgeon's right, 328 00:18:02,838 --> 00:18:04,134 this is the holy of holies. 329 00:18:04,134 --> 00:18:05,972 This is the pinnacle. 330 00:18:05,972 --> 00:18:08,659 The other books - even the Gospels perhaps 331 00:18:08,659 --> 00:18:10,680 take us into the holy place, 332 00:18:10,680 --> 00:18:12,780 but this takes us in further. 333 00:18:12,780 --> 00:18:15,246 We get the very thoughts of Christ 334 00:18:15,246 --> 00:18:17,976 as He's looking upon His bride, 335 00:18:17,976 --> 00:18:19,754 washed in His blood, 336 00:18:19,754 --> 00:18:23,097 and He sees not a single flaw. 337 00:18:23,097 --> 00:18:26,527 Brethren, men of this world, 338 00:18:26,527 --> 00:18:31,783 they find women attractive 339 00:18:31,783 --> 00:18:34,137 though there be no love about it. 340 00:18:34,137 --> 00:18:37,107 Now all sorts of men in this world can find women attractive, 341 00:18:37,107 --> 00:18:38,955 but they don't love the women at all. 342 00:18:38,955 --> 00:18:41,407 And men in this world can find women attractive 343 00:18:41,407 --> 00:18:45,364 even if there are flaws because there always are. 344 00:18:45,364 --> 00:18:50,426 But our Lord's love is never separated 345 00:18:50,426 --> 00:18:52,776 from those He finds beautiful 346 00:18:52,776 --> 00:18:55,028 because it cost Him His life's blood 347 00:18:55,028 --> 00:18:56,701 to make them beautiful. 348 00:18:56,701 --> 00:18:59,011 And this is the thing we need to see, 349 00:18:59,011 --> 00:19:03,109 He makes them entirely beautiful. 350 00:19:03,109 --> 00:19:06,394 It's only those in which there is no flaw 351 00:19:06,394 --> 00:19:08,017 that He finds beautiful. 352 00:19:08,017 --> 00:19:10,411 Do you recognize? 353 00:19:10,411 --> 00:19:13,543 Jesus has no lesser attraction for people 354 00:19:13,543 --> 00:19:16,868 who are just somewhat lesser beautiful. 355 00:19:16,868 --> 00:19:18,064 That's not the case. 356 00:19:18,064 --> 00:19:20,228 Because you know if He finds even a blemish, 357 00:19:20,228 --> 00:19:22,710 He finds them ugly. 358 00:19:22,710 --> 00:19:27,618 Totally unfit. 359 00:19:27,618 --> 00:19:29,382 Adam's one sin - what happened? 360 00:19:29,382 --> 00:19:31,812 God put him away. God put him out of the garden. 361 00:19:31,812 --> 00:19:34,266 There were cherubim with flaming swords. 362 00:19:34,266 --> 00:19:35,970 If there's even one blemish, 363 00:19:35,970 --> 00:19:37,761 you will certainly go to hell. 364 00:19:37,761 --> 00:19:40,666 We need to recognize what it is that Christ has done for us. 365 00:19:40,666 --> 00:19:43,476 He's made us altogether beautiful. 366 00:19:43,476 --> 00:19:47,258 And that is hard. 367 00:19:47,258 --> 00:19:50,961 That's hard for us to swallow. 368 00:19:50,961 --> 00:19:52,742 Christian, I know how you think 369 00:19:52,742 --> 00:19:54,478 because I know how I think, 370 00:19:54,478 --> 00:19:57,640 and I'm made of the same stuff that you're made of. 371 00:19:57,640 --> 00:20:00,695 (incomplete thought) 372 00:20:00,695 --> 00:20:02,964 We walk through life. What happens? 373 00:20:02,964 --> 00:20:04,686 We're still subject to sin, 374 00:20:04,686 --> 00:20:06,384 failure, falls, coldness, 375 00:20:06,384 --> 00:20:07,803 dryness of soul. 376 00:20:07,803 --> 00:20:10,271 We didn't sing it today, but we know it's true. 377 00:20:10,271 --> 00:20:13,762 Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it. 378 00:20:13,762 --> 00:20:15,765 And we do that. 379 00:20:15,765 --> 00:20:17,312 Because all that's true. 380 00:20:17,312 --> 00:20:19,491 So we have a massively hard time 381 00:20:19,491 --> 00:20:23,099 believing that Song of Solomon 4:7 is true. 382 00:20:23,099 --> 00:20:25,277 Altogether beautiful? 383 00:20:25,277 --> 00:20:27,871 Am I altogether beautiful? 384 00:20:27,871 --> 00:20:29,952 There's no flaw in me? 385 00:20:29,952 --> 00:20:31,873 Not even one? 386 00:20:31,873 --> 00:20:34,012 Look, isn't it a flaw when I don't 387 00:20:34,012 --> 00:20:36,850 show hospitality like Brother James said? 388 00:20:36,850 --> 00:20:43,540 What if I get selfish, lazy? 389 00:20:43,540 --> 00:20:45,761 What if I have thoughts of jealousy 390 00:20:45,761 --> 00:20:47,799 or covetousness or pride? 391 00:20:47,799 --> 00:20:50,762 Are you telling me that's no flaw? 392 00:20:50,762 --> 00:20:52,441 It sure feels like a flaw to me. 393 00:20:52,441 --> 00:20:54,017 And we feel that way. 394 00:20:54,017 --> 00:20:56,076 We're not thankful. 395 00:20:56,076 --> 00:20:57,379 Aren't those blemishes? 396 00:20:57,379 --> 00:21:00,743 I feel that they are. You feel that they are. 397 00:21:00,743 --> 00:21:03,242 But I would ask you this, 398 00:21:03,242 --> 00:21:05,600 have you never read 399 00:21:05,600 --> 00:21:12,670 one of the simple statements made by John? 400 00:21:12,670 --> 00:21:14,455 I mean, Spurgeon said it. 401 00:21:14,455 --> 00:21:18,034 You can hardly find a four-syllable word 402 00:21:18,034 --> 00:21:19,713 in John's writings. 403 00:21:19,713 --> 00:21:21,149 Listen to this. 404 00:21:21,149 --> 00:21:26,778 You've heard this, but hear it again. 405 00:21:26,778 --> 00:21:28,517 "If we walk in the light 406 00:21:28,517 --> 00:21:30,190 as He is in the light, 407 00:21:30,190 --> 00:21:31,866 we have fellowship with one another 408 00:21:31,866 --> 00:21:34,684 and the blood of Jesus His Son 409 00:21:34,684 --> 00:21:38,731 cleanses us from all sin." 410 00:21:38,731 --> 00:21:40,970 Did you hear that? 411 00:21:40,970 --> 00:21:44,323 The blood of Jesus His Son 412 00:21:44,323 --> 00:21:48,246 cleanses us from all - 413 00:21:48,246 --> 00:21:50,516 altogether beautiful. 414 00:21:50,516 --> 00:21:54,629 All of it's gone. 415 00:21:54,629 --> 00:21:57,267 Listen to what John is saying. 416 00:21:57,267 --> 00:21:59,525 "If we walk in the light..." 417 00:21:59,525 --> 00:22:00,914 You see, he doesn't say, 418 00:22:00,914 --> 00:22:02,650 "Everybody is beautiful." 419 00:22:02,650 --> 00:22:04,630 "Everybody is without blemish." 420 00:22:04,630 --> 00:22:06,832 "Everybody has had all sin..." 421 00:22:06,832 --> 00:22:11,236 Uh huh... nope. 422 00:22:11,236 --> 00:22:14,616 How can we tell in whom 423 00:22:14,616 --> 00:22:17,738 the cleansing has taken place? 424 00:22:17,738 --> 00:22:21,024 Because they no longer walk in the darkness. 425 00:22:21,024 --> 00:22:24,954 They walk in the light. 426 00:22:24,954 --> 00:22:26,810 If you're a real Christian - 427 00:22:26,810 --> 00:22:31,129 a person who walks in the light - 428 00:22:31,129 --> 00:22:33,358 Jesus said those who walk in darkness, 429 00:22:33,358 --> 00:22:34,866 they wouldn't come to Him. 430 00:22:34,866 --> 00:22:37,553 Why? Because their deeds were evil. 431 00:22:37,553 --> 00:22:40,873 They loved the darkness more than the light. 432 00:22:40,873 --> 00:22:43,963 Oh, but if you know it, you love Christ, 433 00:22:43,963 --> 00:22:47,378 you love to be in His presence, 434 00:22:47,378 --> 00:22:48,773 you love His righteousness, 435 00:22:48,773 --> 00:22:50,691 you have a desire for that. 436 00:22:50,691 --> 00:22:52,227 Your heart's been changed. 437 00:22:52,227 --> 00:22:53,945 You love God's people. 438 00:22:53,945 --> 00:22:56,537 You love His truth. 439 00:22:56,537 --> 00:22:59,254 You have a desire for that light. 440 00:22:59,254 --> 00:23:02,134 You have this promise. 441 00:23:02,134 --> 00:23:05,114 I know you know this, but listen. 442 00:23:05,114 --> 00:23:08,511 Doesn't Scripture say that for our sake 443 00:23:08,511 --> 00:23:12,964 God made Christ to be sin who knew no sin, 444 00:23:12,964 --> 00:23:17,086 so that we might what? Become what? 445 00:23:17,086 --> 00:23:19,686 Do you really take that for what it is? 446 00:23:19,686 --> 00:23:22,539 Do you know what it is to become the righteousness of God? 447 00:23:22,539 --> 00:23:25,204 It's to have no blemish in you. 448 00:23:25,204 --> 00:23:28,607 It's to be perfect. 449 00:23:28,607 --> 00:23:32,334 It's to be altogether beautiful. 450 00:23:32,334 --> 00:23:34,945 "By one man's obedience..." 451 00:23:34,945 --> 00:23:36,172 have you ever read that? 452 00:23:36,172 --> 00:23:39,618 "By one man's obedience" what happened? 453 00:23:39,618 --> 00:23:44,291 "The many will be made righteous." 454 00:23:44,291 --> 00:23:46,099 And they really are. 455 00:23:46,099 --> 00:23:47,475 Do you recognize, Christian, 456 00:23:47,475 --> 00:23:49,218 you really are righteous? 457 00:23:49,218 --> 00:23:51,672 You really are the righteousness of God. 458 00:23:51,672 --> 00:23:53,798 You really are altogether beautiful. 459 00:23:53,798 --> 00:23:55,991 His blood really has cleansed away 460 00:23:55,991 --> 00:23:57,316 every single sin. 461 00:23:57,316 --> 00:24:00,520 And the reality is, every time there's a new sin, 462 00:24:00,520 --> 00:24:04,181 washed clean. It's clean. 463 00:24:04,181 --> 00:24:06,466 No blemish can stick to you. 464 00:24:06,466 --> 00:24:07,958 You say, oh, those are flaws, 465 00:24:07,958 --> 00:24:10,679 but don't you realize the power of the blood? 466 00:24:10,679 --> 00:24:13,844 Altogether beautiful - even on your worst day. 467 00:24:13,844 --> 00:24:17,968 Altogether lovely. 468 00:24:17,968 --> 00:24:20,097 I love the imagery of the Song of Solomon. 469 00:24:20,097 --> 00:24:25,802 Look at Song 4:9. 470 00:24:25,802 --> 00:24:30,034 Hear Jesus speaking to you, Christian. 471 00:24:30,034 --> 00:24:33,538 "You've captivated My heart, 472 00:24:33,538 --> 00:24:35,419 My sister, My bride. 473 00:24:35,419 --> 00:24:37,572 You've captivated My heart 474 00:24:37,572 --> 00:24:39,963 with one glance of your eyes." 475 00:24:39,963 --> 00:24:41,098 Now listen to this. 476 00:24:41,098 --> 00:24:43,176 This is what I'm shooting at here. 477 00:24:43,176 --> 00:24:53,971 "With one jewel of your necklace." 478 00:24:53,971 --> 00:25:01,125 I searched "necklace" in the English. 479 00:25:01,125 --> 00:25:03,990 And do you know what popped up? 480 00:25:03,990 --> 00:25:06,874 This text popped up. 481 00:25:06,874 --> 00:25:08,943 Don't turn to it. Just listen to it. 482 00:25:08,943 --> 00:25:11,364 Psalm 73:6. 483 00:25:11,364 --> 00:25:14,195 Now this is speaking of the wicked, 484 00:25:14,195 --> 00:25:17,178 not of the righteous. 485 00:25:17,178 --> 00:25:21,230 But if you want to know what a necklace 486 00:25:21,230 --> 00:25:27,887 is symbolic of, listen to this. 487 00:25:27,887 --> 00:25:33,447 "Therefore pride is their necklace. 488 00:25:33,447 --> 00:25:35,506 Violence covers them as a garment." 489 00:25:35,506 --> 00:25:37,020 Now you just think about that. 490 00:25:37,020 --> 00:25:41,612 Pride is their necklace. 491 00:25:41,612 --> 00:25:45,531 When a person is proud, 492 00:25:45,531 --> 00:25:48,090 what the psalmist is saying 493 00:25:48,090 --> 00:25:50,931 is it's like having a necklace on. 494 00:25:50,931 --> 00:25:53,639 It's visible. 495 00:25:53,639 --> 00:25:55,572 It's something that's apparent. 496 00:25:55,572 --> 00:25:57,389 It's close to the face. 497 00:25:57,389 --> 00:25:59,592 It's above the clothes line. 498 00:25:59,592 --> 00:26:02,591 It's visible. 499 00:26:02,591 --> 00:26:07,812 A necklace is likened to the character 500 00:26:07,812 --> 00:26:10,899 of the person. 501 00:26:10,899 --> 00:26:12,253 A necklace. 502 00:26:12,253 --> 00:26:15,065 The church's necklace obviously is not pride, 503 00:26:15,065 --> 00:26:17,929 but rather whatever it is, 504 00:26:17,929 --> 00:26:21,236 it's that which Christ finds beautiful in His bride. 505 00:26:21,236 --> 00:26:23,544 But here's the question to ask: 506 00:26:23,544 --> 00:26:28,887 Where does a lowly shepherdess 507 00:26:28,887 --> 00:26:33,342 get a necklace of jewels? 508 00:26:33,342 --> 00:26:35,577 Well, He gave it to her. 509 00:26:35,577 --> 00:26:40,830 You say, where's that in the text? 510 00:26:40,830 --> 00:26:43,294 Brethren, I've had a thought 511 00:26:43,294 --> 00:26:47,184 cross my mind more than once 512 00:26:47,184 --> 00:26:51,133 as I've read through Scripture. 513 00:26:51,133 --> 00:26:53,947 Typically, I try to go through the Bible 514 00:26:53,947 --> 00:26:56,436 roughly maybe from beginning to end 515 00:26:56,436 --> 00:26:58,879 once a year. 516 00:26:58,879 --> 00:27:01,059 So maybe once a year over the last 517 00:27:01,059 --> 00:27:09,340 almost 30 years I hit the book of Daniel. 518 00:27:09,340 --> 00:27:11,518 Have you ever read something like this? 519 00:27:11,518 --> 00:27:13,346 Listen to this - Daniel: 520 00:27:13,346 --> 00:27:14,920 "I lifted up my eyes and looked 521 00:27:14,920 --> 00:27:16,567 and behold a man clothed in linen 522 00:27:16,567 --> 00:27:20,151 with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz 523 00:27:20,151 --> 00:27:21,650 around His waist. 524 00:27:21,650 --> 00:27:23,182 His body was like beryl, 525 00:27:23,182 --> 00:27:25,408 His face like the appearance of lightning. 526 00:27:25,408 --> 00:27:27,182 His eyes like flaming torches. 527 00:27:27,182 --> 00:27:30,504 His arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze. 528 00:27:30,504 --> 00:27:36,541 The sound of His words like the sound of a multitude." 529 00:27:36,541 --> 00:27:43,371 This one before Daniel, 530 00:27:43,371 --> 00:27:46,082 He says to Daniel, 531 00:27:46,082 --> 00:27:52,219 "O Daniel, man greatly loved. 532 00:27:52,219 --> 00:27:54,154 Understand the words that I speak to you 533 00:27:54,154 --> 00:27:58,250 and stand upright, for now I have been sent to you." 534 00:27:58,250 --> 00:28:00,495 I read those words: 535 00:28:00,495 --> 00:28:04,913 "O Daniel, man greatly loved..." 536 00:28:04,913 --> 00:28:06,713 I don't know if you've ever read that 537 00:28:06,713 --> 00:28:09,498 and thought what I've thought, 538 00:28:09,498 --> 00:28:12,099 but I've always thought: 539 00:28:12,099 --> 00:28:15,036 Oh Lord, I want to be that man. 540 00:28:15,036 --> 00:28:20,542 I want to be that man that is greatly loved 541 00:28:20,542 --> 00:28:22,676 of the Lord. 542 00:28:22,676 --> 00:28:23,941 Or you think of John. 543 00:28:23,941 --> 00:28:26,417 Remember how John described himself? 544 00:28:26,417 --> 00:28:29,154 Just there at the end of John's Gospel. 545 00:28:29,154 --> 00:28:30,818 "Peter turned and saw 546 00:28:30,818 --> 00:28:35,214 the disciple whom Jesus loved." 547 00:28:35,214 --> 00:28:38,426 Don't you want to be that guy? 548 00:28:38,426 --> 00:28:40,497 Don't you want that kind of title? 549 00:28:40,497 --> 00:28:42,055 I mean he's using it of himself. 550 00:28:42,055 --> 00:28:44,078 It's not even somebody else that's saying, 551 00:28:44,078 --> 00:28:48,801 "oh, we can see..." (incomplete thought) 552 00:28:48,801 --> 00:28:50,492 He's under inspiration. 553 00:28:50,492 --> 00:28:55,370 He's certainly not saying that in pride. 554 00:28:55,370 --> 00:29:00,840 I think he's saying it in amazement. 555 00:29:00,840 --> 00:29:02,586 The thought I've had is this: 556 00:29:02,586 --> 00:29:05,563 Oh, to be greatly loved like Daniel! 557 00:29:05,563 --> 00:29:10,712 To be the disciple whom Jesus loved like John! 558 00:29:10,712 --> 00:29:15,608 And listen, why do I have thoughts like that? 559 00:29:15,608 --> 00:29:17,721 Because I feel inferior to them. 560 00:29:17,721 --> 00:29:20,579 Because it strikes me in my own mind 561 00:29:20,579 --> 00:29:23,012 and my own conscience: 562 00:29:23,012 --> 00:29:26,565 Oh, well, for him to say that, 563 00:29:26,565 --> 00:29:28,871 for those expressions to be made, 564 00:29:28,871 --> 00:29:30,323 they were favorites. 565 00:29:30,323 --> 00:29:32,693 They were loved more. 566 00:29:32,693 --> 00:29:34,863 I mean, I'm less deserving. 567 00:29:34,863 --> 00:29:36,974 I feel that. I'm not as holy. 568 00:29:36,974 --> 00:29:39,091 I haven't measured up to where they were. 569 00:29:39,091 --> 00:29:40,815 I fall short somehow. 570 00:29:40,815 --> 00:29:43,846 We're not like so-and-so. 571 00:29:43,846 --> 00:29:47,196 But brethren, if only we might have the eyes to see. 572 00:29:47,196 --> 00:29:49,931 The thing is there's no step-children. 573 00:29:49,931 --> 00:29:53,562 (incomplete thought) 574 00:29:53,562 --> 00:29:55,776 I was just thinking. 575 00:29:55,776 --> 00:29:59,672 My mind went to Matthew 25 and I thought 576 00:29:59,672 --> 00:30:01,669 Jesus saying "as much as you've done it 577 00:30:01,669 --> 00:30:04,600 to one of the least of these, My brethren..." 578 00:30:04,600 --> 00:30:06,335 But then I was also thinking 579 00:30:06,335 --> 00:30:11,011 in 1 Thessalonians 5 where it talks about 580 00:30:11,011 --> 00:30:14,836 the faint, the weak, the unruly. 581 00:30:14,836 --> 00:30:17,148 I'm thinking about the most faint Christian 582 00:30:17,148 --> 00:30:18,149 that's ever lived; 583 00:30:18,149 --> 00:30:20,353 the most unruly Christian that's ever lived; 584 00:30:20,353 --> 00:30:23,068 the least of these My brethren. 585 00:30:23,068 --> 00:30:25,607 And you know what Jesus says? 586 00:30:25,607 --> 00:30:28,340 You're perfect. 587 00:30:28,340 --> 00:30:33,429 You are altogether beautiful. 588 00:30:33,429 --> 00:30:35,017 There's no flaw in you. 589 00:30:35,017 --> 00:30:38,118 There's no blemish. 590 00:30:38,118 --> 00:30:39,808 (incomplete thought) 591 00:30:39,808 --> 00:30:43,117 Look at chapter 7:10 - 592 00:30:43,117 --> 00:30:47,587 He can say this: 593 00:30:47,587 --> 00:30:52,231 (this is actually the church speaking). 594 00:30:52,231 --> 00:30:54,110 But listen to her confidence. 595 00:30:54,110 --> 00:30:55,827 You see, this is where I want you. 596 00:30:55,827 --> 00:30:59,174 This is where we need to be. 597 00:30:59,174 --> 00:31:02,404 We need to think and say 598 00:31:02,404 --> 00:31:04,945 with the same confidence that she can say 599 00:31:04,945 --> 00:31:06,765 in this verse: 600 00:31:06,765 --> 00:31:09,243 "I am my Beloved's, 601 00:31:09,243 --> 00:31:12,562 and His desire is for me." 602 00:31:12,562 --> 00:31:14,061 And that's no lie. 603 00:31:14,061 --> 00:31:15,781 She wasn't making that up. 604 00:31:15,781 --> 00:31:18,336 That's altogether the truth. 605 00:31:18,336 --> 00:31:20,298 But oh that we might have the confidence. 606 00:31:20,298 --> 00:31:22,512 Listen to me, what happens 607 00:31:22,512 --> 00:31:25,468 in the Christian's life? 608 00:31:25,468 --> 00:31:29,550 What happens to us when we really believe this? 609 00:31:29,550 --> 00:31:32,250 What happens when we really get to the place 610 00:31:32,250 --> 00:31:34,735 where we believe we're not second-class Christians? 611 00:31:34,735 --> 00:31:37,515 We don't fall short of Daniel and John. 612 00:31:37,515 --> 00:31:40,390 The reality is that these words are spoken 613 00:31:40,390 --> 00:31:44,778 to every one of us equally. 614 00:31:44,778 --> 00:31:47,066 "I love you, 615 00:31:47,066 --> 00:31:50,086 and I find you beautiful, 616 00:31:50,086 --> 00:31:52,455 and I desire you." 617 00:31:52,455 --> 00:31:53,711 What happens? 618 00:31:53,711 --> 00:31:55,906 What happens to a person 619 00:31:55,906 --> 00:31:58,653 when they become filled with the confidence 620 00:31:58,653 --> 00:32:01,213 and the assurance that Jesus Christ 621 00:32:01,213 --> 00:32:02,620 actually desires them 622 00:32:02,620 --> 00:32:05,708 and finds them altogether beautiful 623 00:32:05,708 --> 00:32:08,269 all the time? 624 00:32:08,269 --> 00:32:10,420 Even when I've had a bad day? 625 00:32:10,420 --> 00:32:12,039 What happens when the Christian 626 00:32:12,039 --> 00:32:15,044 really embraces this reality? 627 00:32:15,044 --> 00:32:17,739 What reality? Like this reality - chapter 2:10. 628 00:32:17,739 --> 00:32:20,840 Look at it. 629 00:32:20,840 --> 00:32:23,722 Again, this is her at the beginning, 630 00:32:23,722 --> 00:32:28,370 but she's going to tell you what He says. 631 00:32:28,370 --> 00:32:32,660 You know, brethren, listen to me. 632 00:32:32,660 --> 00:32:35,469 Oftentimes in the Song of Solomon, 633 00:32:35,469 --> 00:32:39,666 it doesn't just tell you what He says. 634 00:32:39,666 --> 00:32:44,516 She tells you what He says. 635 00:32:44,516 --> 00:32:46,941 You say, what does that mean? 636 00:32:46,941 --> 00:32:53,058 She has become confident in His love for her. 637 00:32:53,058 --> 00:32:55,836 And that's where we need to be. 638 00:32:55,836 --> 00:32:57,905 Now listen to this. 639 00:32:57,905 --> 00:33:02,701 This is 2:10, 640 00:33:02,701 --> 00:33:06,614 "My Beloved speaks and says to me..." 641 00:33:06,614 --> 00:33:09,274 Oh, Christian, may God give you ears to hear this 642 00:33:09,274 --> 00:33:11,596 as Christ's voice to you. 643 00:33:11,596 --> 00:33:14,669 "Arise, My love, My beautiful one 644 00:33:14,669 --> 00:33:18,276 and come away." 645 00:33:18,276 --> 00:33:20,272 "Come away." 646 00:33:20,272 --> 00:33:21,631 From where? 647 00:33:21,631 --> 00:33:24,390 Whatever preoccupies; whatever distracts; 648 00:33:24,390 --> 00:33:27,005 whatever takes you away from Him. 649 00:33:27,005 --> 00:33:29,639 Come away. 650 00:33:29,639 --> 00:33:31,308 "For behold, the winter is passed. 651 00:33:31,308 --> 00:33:33,020 The rain is over and gone. 652 00:33:33,020 --> 00:33:35,493 The flowers appear on the earth." 653 00:33:35,493 --> 00:33:38,864 I love this: "The time of singing has come." 654 00:33:38,864 --> 00:33:45,280 If you are saved, this description fits you 655 00:33:45,280 --> 00:33:47,523 and it is a time for singing. 656 00:33:47,523 --> 00:33:49,205 Christians ought to be the people 657 00:33:49,205 --> 00:33:53,342 of all people on the face of this earth that sing. 658 00:33:53,342 --> 00:33:54,765 We have reason to sing. 659 00:33:54,765 --> 00:33:57,418 "It is a time of singing and the voice 660 00:33:57,418 --> 00:34:00,188 of the turtledove is heard in our land. 661 00:34:00,188 --> 00:34:01,907 The fig tree ripens its figs. 662 00:34:01,907 --> 00:34:03,144 The vines are in blossom. 663 00:34:03,144 --> 00:34:04,863 They give forth fragrance." 664 00:34:04,863 --> 00:34:06,286 And He says it again, 665 00:34:06,286 --> 00:34:10,131 "Arise, My love, My beautiful one, 666 00:34:10,131 --> 00:34:11,759 and come away." 667 00:34:11,759 --> 00:34:13,559 I mean, what happens to the Christian 668 00:34:13,559 --> 00:34:15,059 who truly hears these words 669 00:34:15,059 --> 00:34:18,083 in his or her ears? 670 00:34:18,083 --> 00:34:20,254 Look at v. 14. 671 00:34:20,254 --> 00:34:24,105 "O My dove in the clefts of the rock..." 672 00:34:24,105 --> 00:34:26,500 This is a good picture. 673 00:34:26,500 --> 00:34:28,965 We are those doves. 674 00:34:28,965 --> 00:34:30,813 Where are the clefts of the rock? 675 00:34:30,813 --> 00:34:35,177 That's where the doves hide. 676 00:34:35,177 --> 00:34:42,166 Notice: "In the crannies of the cliff." 677 00:34:42,166 --> 00:34:44,493 We find places to hide. 678 00:34:44,493 --> 00:34:46,582 Where are those hiding places? 679 00:34:46,582 --> 00:34:49,294 They're away from being with Him. 680 00:34:49,294 --> 00:34:51,463 And He's calling, 681 00:34:51,463 --> 00:34:53,644 "Let Me hear your voice." 682 00:34:53,644 --> 00:34:57,327 In other words, when you're hid 683 00:34:57,327 --> 00:35:01,941 in the crannies of the cliffs, 684 00:35:01,941 --> 00:35:03,384 He's not hearing your voice. 685 00:35:03,384 --> 00:35:04,412 You're hiding. 686 00:35:04,412 --> 00:35:08,482 He's saying, "Come! Come out of there." 687 00:35:08,482 --> 00:35:10,292 Remember what she says. 688 00:35:10,292 --> 00:35:13,533 "His desire is for me." 689 00:35:13,533 --> 00:35:15,855 He says, "Your voice is sweet. 690 00:35:15,855 --> 00:35:23,494 Your face is lovely." 691 00:35:23,494 --> 00:35:26,455 One of the reasons we shy away 692 00:35:26,455 --> 00:35:29,057 is because we feel dirty. 693 00:35:29,057 --> 00:35:30,337 We hide. 694 00:35:30,337 --> 00:35:32,425 We're too much like Peter, right? 695 00:35:32,425 --> 00:35:35,445 We're just like him. 696 00:35:35,445 --> 00:35:38,131 "Peter, if I don't wash you, you have no part with Me." 697 00:35:38,131 --> 00:35:42,863 And we feel it. Lord, wash my head. Wash my hands. 698 00:35:42,863 --> 00:35:46,316 And He's saying it's not necessary. 699 00:35:46,316 --> 00:35:48,356 But we feel like Peter. 700 00:35:48,356 --> 00:35:53,510 Ugh... I haven't had a perfect day, 701 00:35:53,510 --> 00:35:55,623 so we feel defiled like Peter. 702 00:35:55,623 --> 00:35:59,178 "Wash us, Lord," and He's saying "you're already clean." 703 00:35:59,178 --> 00:36:01,939 You're washed. 704 00:36:01,939 --> 00:36:05,265 What happens when this truth grabs us? 705 00:36:05,265 --> 00:36:07,353 That our Lord finds us beautiful? 706 00:36:07,353 --> 00:36:09,642 Desires us? Calls us to come away? 707 00:36:09,642 --> 00:36:12,283 Arise because He wants to hear our voice? See our face? 708 00:36:12,283 --> 00:36:15,545 I'll tell you what happens. 709 00:36:15,545 --> 00:36:19,644 No matter what failures you've experienced, 710 00:36:19,644 --> 00:36:21,681 you'll find it a time for singing, 711 00:36:21,681 --> 00:36:22,885 a time of shouting, 712 00:36:22,885 --> 00:36:24,836 a time to arise and go away. 713 00:36:24,836 --> 00:36:26,201 You know what happens 714 00:36:26,201 --> 00:36:28,263 when you really start to believe this? 715 00:36:28,263 --> 00:36:30,302 It doesn't matter if you've had a bad day. 716 00:36:30,302 --> 00:36:32,536 It doesn't matter the things that you've done. 717 00:36:32,536 --> 00:36:33,997 What you're going to find is: 718 00:36:33,997 --> 00:36:36,238 I can go to Him and He wants me to go to Him 719 00:36:36,238 --> 00:36:37,603 and He finds me beautiful. 720 00:36:37,603 --> 00:36:40,230 And this thing never was based on my performance. 721 00:36:40,230 --> 00:36:42,608 His blood really has made me as clean 722 00:36:42,608 --> 00:36:44,148 as what Scripture says. 723 00:36:44,148 --> 00:36:46,428 He finds me altogether beautiful. 724 00:36:46,428 --> 00:36:48,930 Why? Not because there's any innate beauty in me. 725 00:36:48,930 --> 00:36:49,970 He found me ugly. 726 00:36:49,970 --> 00:36:52,443 He found me in my blood and in my sin, 727 00:36:52,443 --> 00:36:54,423 but He washed me. 728 00:36:54,423 --> 00:36:57,308 And He made me clean and that is so real. 729 00:36:57,308 --> 00:37:00,434 And even the eyes of God Himself 730 00:37:00,434 --> 00:37:02,622 find no blemish in me. 731 00:37:02,622 --> 00:37:06,390 Altogether lovely. Altogether. 732 00:37:06,390 --> 00:37:09,548 If you believe this, it will entirely 733 00:37:09,548 --> 00:37:11,204 energize your prayer life, 734 00:37:11,204 --> 00:37:12,954 because you won't feel like: 735 00:37:12,954 --> 00:37:15,097 oh, I've had a rotten day. 736 00:37:15,097 --> 00:37:17,454 How could I go pray? 737 00:37:17,454 --> 00:37:19,212 And if you can hear His voice saying: 738 00:37:19,212 --> 00:37:22,645 "Your face is lovely. I want to hear your voice. 739 00:37:22,645 --> 00:37:26,674 My desire is for you. Come to Me." 740 00:37:26,674 --> 00:37:27,954 Oh, the fools we are! 741 00:37:27,954 --> 00:37:29,800 We are fools! 742 00:37:29,800 --> 00:37:32,219 So often. Why? 743 00:37:32,219 --> 00:37:35,230 Because we buy into the lie of the devil. 744 00:37:35,230 --> 00:37:37,823 And you can be sure it's him. 745 00:37:37,823 --> 00:37:40,888 And I'll tell you this, 746 00:37:40,888 --> 00:37:43,194 what he seeks to do is the same thing 747 00:37:43,194 --> 00:37:44,607 he did with Eve, 748 00:37:44,607 --> 00:37:46,141 and it's to pull you away 749 00:37:46,141 --> 00:37:48,367 and the thoughts of your head away 750 00:37:48,367 --> 00:37:50,705 from a pure devotion to Christ. 751 00:37:50,705 --> 00:37:53,605 That's exactly what the apostle told the Corinthians. 752 00:37:53,605 --> 00:37:54,853 That's what he's doing. 753 00:37:54,853 --> 00:37:56,483 And if there's any way to do it, 754 00:37:56,483 --> 00:37:58,776 to pull you away from a sincere devotion to Him, 755 00:37:58,776 --> 00:38:00,460 it's by telling you you're ugly, 756 00:38:00,460 --> 00:38:01,557 you're full of sin, 757 00:38:01,557 --> 00:38:02,752 you can't go to Him, 758 00:38:02,752 --> 00:38:05,365 who are you? 759 00:38:05,365 --> 00:38:08,360 Paul says that we would not 760 00:38:08,360 --> 00:38:10,133 be outwitted by Satan, 761 00:38:10,133 --> 00:38:12,054 for we are not ignorant of his designs. 762 00:38:12,054 --> 00:38:14,564 Listen to me, one of the great designs of the devil 763 00:38:14,564 --> 00:38:17,109 is to convince you that this is not true. 764 00:38:17,109 --> 00:38:18,686 And he will seek to do that 765 00:38:18,686 --> 00:38:22,452 and he will seek to whisper his venom in your ear. 766 00:38:22,452 --> 00:38:23,782 (incomplete thought) 767 00:38:23,782 --> 00:38:25,041 Listen to the text. 768 00:38:25,041 --> 00:38:26,070 (incomplete thought) 769 00:38:26,070 --> 00:38:28,182 This is what Paul says to the Corinthians: 770 00:38:28,182 --> 00:38:34,367 "I'm afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, 771 00:38:34,367 --> 00:38:35,616 your thoughts..." 772 00:38:35,616 --> 00:38:38,425 This comes out of 2 Corinthians 11. 773 00:38:38,425 --> 00:38:41,353 "I'm afraid that as the serpent 774 00:38:41,353 --> 00:38:43,767 deceived Eve by his cunning, 775 00:38:43,767 --> 00:38:49,111 your thoughts..." or your minds, 776 00:38:49,111 --> 00:38:53,415 "will be led astray from a sincere 777 00:38:53,415 --> 00:38:55,021 and pure devotion to Christ." 778 00:38:55,021 --> 00:38:58,714 Now did you get that? 779 00:38:58,714 --> 00:39:02,002 He wants to attack you right here. 780 00:39:02,002 --> 00:39:03,947 How you think. 781 00:39:03,947 --> 00:39:06,735 (Incomplete thought) 782 00:39:06,735 --> 00:39:08,140 What this tells us 783 00:39:08,140 --> 00:39:10,560 is there's a constant attack 784 00:39:10,560 --> 00:39:12,870 on your thoughts. 785 00:39:12,870 --> 00:39:15,212 How does he do it? I don't know how he does it. 786 00:39:15,212 --> 00:39:17,383 But you know thoughts come into your brain. 787 00:39:17,383 --> 00:39:19,716 What this tells me is he's got the ability 788 00:39:19,716 --> 00:39:23,637 to interject thoughts in your head. 789 00:39:23,637 --> 00:39:25,617 When thoughts pop into your mind, 790 00:39:25,617 --> 00:39:28,784 that is often him. 791 00:39:28,784 --> 00:39:32,675 Now, God can bring thoughts to your mind, 792 00:39:32,675 --> 00:39:35,345 but we're not ignorant of his designs. 793 00:39:35,345 --> 00:39:36,448 What does he do? 794 00:39:36,448 --> 00:39:39,161 He wants thoughts going through our minds 795 00:39:39,161 --> 00:39:42,134 that lead us away from Christ; 796 00:39:42,134 --> 00:39:43,943 that lead us - did you get the word? 797 00:39:43,943 --> 00:39:45,846 Astray. Astray from what? 798 00:39:45,846 --> 00:39:47,065 Astray from Christ. 799 00:39:47,065 --> 00:39:49,353 Astray from this sincere and pure 800 00:39:49,353 --> 00:39:51,402 devotion to Christ. 801 00:39:51,402 --> 00:39:53,480 That's the issue. 802 00:39:53,480 --> 00:39:55,499 How did the devil deceive Eve? 803 00:39:55,499 --> 00:39:57,449 Lead her astray from pure, 804 00:39:57,449 --> 00:40:01,018 concentrated attraction and devotion to Christ? 805 00:40:01,018 --> 00:40:04,410 Well, just listen. 806 00:40:04,410 --> 00:40:06,515 "The woman said to the serpent, 807 00:40:06,515 --> 00:40:08,948 'we may eat the fruit of the trees in the garden.'" 808 00:40:08,948 --> 00:40:10,565 Because you remember, 809 00:40:10,565 --> 00:40:11,971 he said, "did God really say 810 00:40:11,971 --> 00:40:15,874 that you can't eat of all the trees?" 811 00:40:15,874 --> 00:40:18,450 She said, "No, that's not what He said." 812 00:40:18,450 --> 00:40:22,850 "'He said we may eat of the fruit 813 00:40:22,850 --> 00:40:25,046 of the trees in the garden,' 814 00:40:25,046 --> 00:40:27,334 but God said, 'you shall not eat of the tree 815 00:40:27,334 --> 00:40:29,073 that is in the midst of the garden, 816 00:40:29,073 --> 00:40:31,053 neither shall you touch it lest you die.' 817 00:40:31,053 --> 00:40:33,155 But the serpent said to the woman, 818 00:40:33,155 --> 00:40:35,333 'you will not surely die.'" 819 00:40:35,333 --> 00:40:39,213 But you know that's not all he said. 820 00:40:39,213 --> 00:40:44,097 He didn't just say God's a liar. 821 00:40:44,097 --> 00:40:46,964 Listen to what he says. 822 00:40:46,964 --> 00:40:51,980 "God knows that when you eat of it, 823 00:40:51,980 --> 00:40:54,257 your eyes will be opened 824 00:40:54,257 --> 00:40:58,505 and you will be like God 825 00:40:58,505 --> 00:41:00,385 knowing good and evil." 826 00:41:00,385 --> 00:41:01,483 See? There it is. 827 00:41:01,483 --> 00:41:03,806 God's holding out on you. 828 00:41:03,806 --> 00:41:07,910 God full well knows that in the eating of that tree, 829 00:41:07,910 --> 00:41:10,630 far from dying like God threatened, 830 00:41:10,630 --> 00:41:12,296 the result of eating that fruit 831 00:41:12,296 --> 00:41:14,794 will be that you will have a clearer understanding 832 00:41:14,794 --> 00:41:17,017 of both good and evil, 833 00:41:17,017 --> 00:41:19,677 a degree of knowledge like you never had before. 834 00:41:19,677 --> 00:41:21,260 You're going to be like God, 835 00:41:21,260 --> 00:41:26,927 and God is unwilling that you should enjoy that. 836 00:41:26,927 --> 00:41:29,476 God's unwilling that you should be 837 00:41:29,476 --> 00:41:33,188 as happy as you might be. 838 00:41:33,188 --> 00:41:37,126 Brethren, we're not ignorant of the devil's designs. 839 00:41:37,126 --> 00:41:38,518 Right? 840 00:41:38,518 --> 00:41:41,076 So let's not be ignorant. 841 00:41:41,076 --> 00:41:42,307 That's the issue. 842 00:41:42,307 --> 00:41:44,838 One design of the devil is this: 843 00:41:44,838 --> 00:41:47,397 He will make God's ways 844 00:41:47,397 --> 00:41:51,677 into cruelty and drudgery and slavery. 845 00:41:51,677 --> 00:41:53,771 He doesn't want you to think 846 00:41:53,771 --> 00:41:57,582 that Christianity is like this Groom 847 00:41:57,582 --> 00:42:01,100 who comes in and finds you altogether lovely 848 00:42:01,100 --> 00:42:03,422 and His desire is for you and He says, 849 00:42:03,422 --> 00:42:05,578 "Commune with Me. It's a time for singing. 850 00:42:05,578 --> 00:42:08,314 Come out of your crannies and cracks of the rocks 851 00:42:08,314 --> 00:42:10,389 and I desire to be with you. 852 00:42:10,389 --> 00:42:12,119 I want you to walk with Me. 853 00:42:12,119 --> 00:42:14,493 I love your voice. I love your face. 854 00:42:14,493 --> 00:42:17,232 I want to commune with you." 855 00:42:17,232 --> 00:42:18,904 The devil doesn't want you to think 856 00:42:18,904 --> 00:42:21,275 Christianity is like that. 857 00:42:21,275 --> 00:42:22,761 And you know what? Most of us, 858 00:42:22,761 --> 00:42:24,964 when we were lost will admit, 859 00:42:24,964 --> 00:42:28,051 we thought Christianity... 860 00:42:28,051 --> 00:42:31,374 no, we don't want that. 861 00:42:31,374 --> 00:42:34,034 God's a killjoy! 862 00:42:34,034 --> 00:42:36,444 He's going to give me a bunch of laws and rules 863 00:42:36,444 --> 00:42:37,758 and make my life miserable! 864 00:42:37,758 --> 00:42:39,442 And see, the devil's right there. 865 00:42:39,442 --> 00:42:42,846 Oh, he wants you to think exactly like that. 866 00:42:42,846 --> 00:42:43,996 Exactly. 867 00:42:43,996 --> 00:42:45,454 The devil would have us think 868 00:42:45,454 --> 00:42:48,160 that Christ doesn't really like us. 869 00:42:48,160 --> 00:42:50,378 You know what he wants you to think? 870 00:42:50,378 --> 00:42:53,825 He's constantly frowning. 871 00:42:53,825 --> 00:42:55,599 You didn't measure up today. 872 00:42:55,599 --> 00:42:57,153 That's how he wants you to think 873 00:42:57,153 --> 00:42:59,888 because that's how he is. 874 00:42:59,888 --> 00:43:02,565 But that's not how Christ is. 875 00:43:02,565 --> 00:43:06,533 That blood washed you clean. 876 00:43:06,533 --> 00:43:08,624 The devil's always whispering: 877 00:43:08,624 --> 00:43:12,995 "Oh, God has such a hard time liking you." 878 00:43:12,995 --> 00:43:15,262 "He doesn't really love you." 879 00:43:15,262 --> 00:43:16,690 He puts a spin on God. 880 00:43:16,690 --> 00:43:19,469 "God is selfish and self-serving 881 00:43:19,469 --> 00:43:21,195 and uncaring." 882 00:43:21,195 --> 00:43:22,754 He would have us see God 883 00:43:22,754 --> 00:43:26,263 and see Christ as being cold towards us 884 00:43:26,263 --> 00:43:28,573 and distant and unapproachable 885 00:43:28,573 --> 00:43:32,188 and angry and hostile, uncaring. 886 00:43:32,188 --> 00:43:34,326 Bunyan picked up on this 887 00:43:34,326 --> 00:43:35,966 in Pilgrim's Progress. 888 00:43:35,966 --> 00:43:41,387 Listen, Pilgrim is coming across the plain 889 00:43:41,387 --> 00:43:44,046 and it says, "Now Christian had not gone far 890 00:43:44,046 --> 00:43:46,320 in this valley of humiliation 891 00:43:46,320 --> 00:43:48,076 before he was severely tested. 892 00:43:48,076 --> 00:43:52,171 For he noticed a very foul fiend." 893 00:43:52,171 --> 00:43:57,037 Apollyon coming across the field. 894 00:43:57,037 --> 00:44:00,547 Listen to what Apollyon says to him. 895 00:44:00,547 --> 00:44:03,917 "Consider what it will be like 896 00:44:03,917 --> 00:44:07,857 when your spirit is low." 897 00:44:07,857 --> 00:44:09,711 So, he's saying to Christian, 898 00:44:09,711 --> 00:44:12,905 you better think about this path you're getting on 899 00:44:12,905 --> 00:44:15,394 following the king's path. 900 00:44:15,394 --> 00:44:18,024 He said "Christ is going to bring you 901 00:44:18,024 --> 00:44:19,967 into low places, 902 00:44:19,967 --> 00:44:21,894 and at the same time, 903 00:44:21,894 --> 00:44:23,581 you have much to encounter 904 00:44:23,581 --> 00:44:25,086 in the way you're going. 905 00:44:25,086 --> 00:44:27,274 You're aware that for the most part, 906 00:44:27,274 --> 00:44:31,598 Christ's servants come to a wretched end. 907 00:44:31,598 --> 00:44:34,861 And yet, He's never come from His heavenly residence 908 00:44:34,861 --> 00:44:37,890 to rescue any of His servants." 909 00:44:37,890 --> 00:44:40,188 He's basically saying Christ is going to 910 00:44:40,188 --> 00:44:41,420 put you on a hard way. 911 00:44:41,420 --> 00:44:42,833 It's going to be a cruel way, 912 00:44:42,833 --> 00:44:47,365 and He doesn't come to help you. 913 00:44:47,365 --> 00:44:49,674 But you just tell me this. 914 00:44:49,674 --> 00:44:53,663 What happens when God comes from Heaven 915 00:44:53,663 --> 00:44:57,210 and takes upon Himself human flesh? 916 00:44:57,210 --> 00:44:59,837 What does He do? What is He like? 917 00:44:59,837 --> 00:45:02,783 When this pure, radiance 918 00:45:02,783 --> 00:45:08,277 of the glory of God walks this earth as a man 919 00:45:08,277 --> 00:45:12,078 and He says out of all the miracles 920 00:45:12,078 --> 00:45:15,313 that I could start my ministry with, 921 00:45:15,313 --> 00:45:18,464 what would send the clearest message to these people 922 00:45:18,464 --> 00:45:21,254 of My goodness towards them? 923 00:45:21,254 --> 00:45:22,484 He goes to a wedding 924 00:45:22,484 --> 00:45:27,879 and He turns water into wine. 925 00:45:27,879 --> 00:45:32,140 It's the best wine! 926 00:45:32,140 --> 00:45:34,761 Scripture says, "Your love is better than wine," 927 00:45:34,761 --> 00:45:37,180 there in the Song of Solomon. 928 00:45:37,180 --> 00:45:39,155 What does that say to us? 929 00:45:39,155 --> 00:45:42,104 Is He saying, "Look at Me. I'm cruel. 930 00:45:42,104 --> 00:45:43,576 I'm uncaring. 931 00:45:43,576 --> 00:45:47,086 I've come to make life hard for you." 932 00:45:47,086 --> 00:45:48,750 He comes saying, 933 00:45:48,750 --> 00:45:51,856 "I have come to give mankind joy 934 00:45:51,856 --> 00:45:54,761 and freedom and life more abundantly. 935 00:45:54,761 --> 00:45:57,388 I've come to pour out My love on you." 936 00:45:57,388 --> 00:45:59,898 As undeserving as you may be, 937 00:45:59,898 --> 00:46:03,139 He came to procure for Himself a bride. 938 00:46:03,139 --> 00:46:05,862 But He knew the stock of mankind 939 00:46:05,862 --> 00:46:08,041 into which He was coming. 940 00:46:08,041 --> 00:46:12,586 He came to make Himself a bride 941 00:46:12,586 --> 00:46:14,693 out of the fallen, the wretched, 942 00:46:14,693 --> 00:46:17,978 the broken, the lowly. 943 00:46:17,978 --> 00:46:21,121 This is the love of Christ. It surpasses understanding. 944 00:46:21,121 --> 00:46:26,034 Just look at the desire of the Savior 945 00:46:26,034 --> 00:46:27,927 in the Song of Solomon. 946 00:46:27,927 --> 00:46:29,678 I'll take you here again. 947 00:46:29,678 --> 00:46:33,424 Chapter 2:10. 948 00:46:33,424 --> 00:46:36,011 Again, this is her speaking. 949 00:46:36,011 --> 00:46:40,513 I want you to speak this way, brethren. 950 00:46:40,513 --> 00:46:42,802 I want you to be able to say this 951 00:46:42,802 --> 00:46:44,329 with confidence. 952 00:46:44,329 --> 00:46:47,940 "My Beloved speaks and says to Me, 953 00:46:47,940 --> 00:46:52,210 'Arise, My love, My beautiful one and come away.'" 954 00:46:52,210 --> 00:46:55,560 And you know one of the things that I'd say 955 00:46:55,560 --> 00:47:01,807 is we should tune our ears to hear His voice. 956 00:47:01,807 --> 00:47:03,839 You feel quickened to pray? 957 00:47:03,839 --> 00:47:06,811 You feel some drawing? 958 00:47:06,811 --> 00:47:09,201 You feel some necessity? 959 00:47:09,201 --> 00:47:12,425 Don't ever despise that. 960 00:47:12,425 --> 00:47:17,283 "For behold, the winter is passed..." 961 00:47:17,283 --> 00:47:19,554 Again, He says, "the time of singing has come." 962 00:47:19,554 --> 00:47:22,096 Or you look at v. 13 again. 963 00:47:22,096 --> 00:47:24,324 "The fig tree ripens its figs. 964 00:47:24,324 --> 00:47:25,689 The vines are in blossom. 965 00:47:25,689 --> 00:47:26,964 They give forth fragrance. 966 00:47:26,964 --> 00:47:29,623 Arise, My love, My beautiful one, 967 00:47:29,623 --> 00:47:31,395 and come away." 968 00:47:31,395 --> 00:47:34,146 Or you go to Song of Solomon 4:8. 969 00:47:34,146 --> 00:47:38,463 Here you see it again. 970 00:47:38,463 --> 00:47:42,522 "Come with Me from Lebanon, My bride." 971 00:47:42,522 --> 00:47:46,139 Come with Me from Lebanon. 972 00:47:46,139 --> 00:47:47,799 Come with Me. 973 00:47:47,799 --> 00:47:49,716 He bids you to come away. 974 00:47:49,716 --> 00:47:52,791 Not to go away from Him. 975 00:47:52,791 --> 00:47:55,075 Come with Me. 976 00:47:55,075 --> 00:47:57,084 Brethren, I don't know how it is with you, 977 00:47:57,084 --> 00:47:59,586 but I know how it is with me. 978 00:47:59,586 --> 00:48:02,035 I fall. 979 00:48:02,035 --> 00:48:04,098 I fail. 980 00:48:04,098 --> 00:48:06,359 I'm foolish. 981 00:48:06,359 --> 00:48:15,648 And a thought arises in my head: 982 00:48:15,648 --> 00:48:20,200 Can I just go to Him now? 983 00:48:20,200 --> 00:48:23,994 After what I've done? 984 00:48:23,994 --> 00:48:31,599 There's an innate works mindset built into us 985 00:48:31,599 --> 00:48:34,016 just from the stock of which we come. 986 00:48:34,016 --> 00:48:35,986 It's almost like we feel like 987 00:48:35,986 --> 00:48:40,142 we have to do a certain measure of penance 988 00:48:40,142 --> 00:48:43,535 to kind of get ourselves back. 989 00:48:43,535 --> 00:48:46,898 But listen, 990 00:48:46,898 --> 00:48:49,940 the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us. 991 00:48:49,940 --> 00:48:51,902 Didn't John say it? 992 00:48:51,902 --> 00:48:53,342 He said, "My little children, 993 00:48:53,342 --> 00:48:55,231 I'm writing to you that you don't sin, 994 00:48:55,231 --> 00:48:57,815 but if you sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, 995 00:48:57,815 --> 00:49:00,395 Jesus Christ the Righteous." 996 00:49:00,395 --> 00:49:01,579 We can run to Him. 997 00:49:01,579 --> 00:49:03,235 We can confess our sins 998 00:49:03,235 --> 00:49:06,885 and He's faithful and just to forgive. 999 00:49:06,885 --> 00:49:10,982 The last place you want to go anytime 1000 00:49:10,982 --> 00:49:12,416 is away from Christ. 1001 00:49:12,416 --> 00:49:14,052 But the devil will have you do it. 1002 00:49:14,052 --> 00:49:15,844 Don't despise this. 1003 00:49:15,844 --> 00:49:19,168 We know his designs. 1004 00:49:19,168 --> 00:49:21,531 His design is to take you away 1005 00:49:21,531 --> 00:49:26,660 from this pure, sincere devotion to Christ. 1006 00:49:26,660 --> 00:49:28,835 Having Christ in your eyes. 1007 00:49:28,835 --> 00:49:34,472 He's calling you, "Come. Come away." 1008 00:49:34,472 --> 00:49:36,819 "Come to Me." 1009 00:49:36,819 --> 00:49:39,137 The devil's right there: "No, you can't go. 1010 00:49:39,137 --> 00:49:42,536 You can't go. He's angry with you." 1011 00:49:42,536 --> 00:49:47,139 But listen... listen to His voice. 1012 00:49:47,139 --> 00:49:51,222 "Arise, My love, My beautiful one, 1013 00:49:51,222 --> 00:49:54,155 and come away." 1014 00:49:54,155 --> 00:49:56,776 That's a statement for the ages. 1015 00:49:56,776 --> 00:50:01,424 It's true every single day of your saved life. 1016 00:50:01,424 --> 00:50:07,118 And Satan says, "Uh huh. You're ugly." 1017 00:50:07,118 --> 00:50:09,099 And Christ says, "You're beautiful." 1018 00:50:09,099 --> 00:50:10,808 He says, "You're ugly!" 1019 00:50:10,808 --> 00:50:13,856 Christ says, "You're beautiful." 1020 00:50:13,856 --> 00:50:17,329 Who are you going to believe? 1021 00:50:17,329 --> 00:50:21,606 He's a liar. Who are you going to believe? 1022 00:50:21,606 --> 00:50:24,606 Have you ever considered 1023 00:50:24,606 --> 00:50:27,438 the account in Zechariah? 1024 00:50:27,438 --> 00:50:29,830 You might want to turn there. 1025 00:50:29,830 --> 00:50:31,347 Go to Zechariah. 1026 00:50:31,347 --> 00:50:36,525 Second to the last book of the Old Testament. 1027 00:50:36,525 --> 00:50:38,830 You have Zephaniah, Haggai, 1028 00:50:38,830 --> 00:50:44,588 and then Zechariah right before Malachi. 1029 00:50:44,588 --> 00:50:48,714 Look at chapter 3. 1030 00:50:48,714 --> 00:51:00,337 Chapter 3:3. 1031 00:51:00,337 --> 00:51:03,264 "And Joshua was standing before the Angel 1032 00:51:03,264 --> 00:51:08,914 clothed with filthy garments." 1033 00:51:08,914 --> 00:51:12,561 Zechariah 3:3. 1034 00:51:12,561 --> 00:51:14,613 "Joshua was standing before the Angel 1035 00:51:14,613 --> 00:51:19,399 clothed with filthy garments." 1036 00:51:19,399 --> 00:51:22,986 Now go back up to v.1. 1037 00:51:22,986 --> 00:51:24,702 "He showed me Joshua the high priest 1038 00:51:24,702 --> 00:51:27,408 standing before the Angel of the Lord." 1039 00:51:27,408 --> 00:51:29,070 Notice, Satan's there. 1040 00:51:29,070 --> 00:51:34,115 So you have Joshua 1041 00:51:34,115 --> 00:51:36,064 clothed in filthy garments. 1042 00:51:36,064 --> 00:51:38,209 There's Satan. 1043 00:51:38,209 --> 00:51:45,686 He's standing - undoubtedly at the right hand of the Lord - 1044 00:51:45,686 --> 00:51:53,747 to accuse Joshua. 1045 00:51:53,747 --> 00:51:57,115 And look at v. 2. 1046 00:51:57,115 --> 00:51:59,704 "The Lord said to Satan, 1047 00:51:59,704 --> 00:52:03,318 'The Lord rebuke you, O Satan! 1048 00:52:03,318 --> 00:52:07,250 The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you. 1049 00:52:07,250 --> 00:52:14,031 Is not this a brand plucked from the fire?'" 1050 00:52:14,031 --> 00:52:16,993 You know what's true? 1051 00:52:16,993 --> 00:52:21,184 He was standing there in a filthy garment. 1052 00:52:21,184 --> 00:52:22,750 And you know what's true? 1053 00:52:22,750 --> 00:52:29,785 Most of the devil's accusations about you are true. 1054 00:52:29,785 --> 00:52:32,444 Your failures that he throws in your face? 1055 00:52:32,444 --> 00:52:35,826 You did fail. 1056 00:52:35,826 --> 00:52:37,312 That's a reality. 1057 00:52:37,312 --> 00:52:39,318 We do sin. We do fail. We do fall. 1058 00:52:39,318 --> 00:52:41,430 We are foolish. 1059 00:52:41,430 --> 00:52:44,390 And yet, we can say, 1060 00:52:44,390 --> 00:52:48,193 "Satan, the Lord rebuke you." 1061 00:52:48,193 --> 00:52:51,188 Why? Because we too are brands 1062 00:52:51,188 --> 00:52:54,370 plucked from the fire. 1063 00:52:54,370 --> 00:52:55,306 Look at v. 4, 1064 00:52:55,306 --> 00:52:56,930 "The Angel said to those who were 1065 00:52:56,930 --> 00:52:58,625 standing before Him, 1066 00:52:58,625 --> 00:53:01,273 'remove the filthy garments...'" 1067 00:53:01,273 --> 00:53:03,327 This is what the blood does. 1068 00:53:03,327 --> 00:53:06,921 "Remove the filthy garments from him. 1069 00:53:06,921 --> 00:53:09,323 And to him He said, 'Behold, I have 1070 00:53:09,323 --> 00:53:12,288 taken your iniquity away from you 1071 00:53:12,288 --> 00:53:17,860 and I will clothe you with pure vestments.'" 1072 00:53:17,860 --> 00:53:21,439 You see, the devil, he knows what we do. 1073 00:53:21,439 --> 00:53:22,650 He throws it in our face. 1074 00:53:22,650 --> 00:53:26,211 But the reality is that the Lord says to us: 1075 00:53:26,211 --> 00:53:27,728 "I know what you've done. 1076 00:53:27,728 --> 00:53:30,111 And I know better than the devil what you've done. 1077 00:53:30,111 --> 00:53:32,052 And I didn't withhold My love from you 1078 00:53:32,052 --> 00:53:33,745 at the first because of your sins 1079 00:53:33,745 --> 00:53:35,191 and I don't withhold it now. 1080 00:53:35,191 --> 00:53:39,171 Arise, My love, My beautiful one, 1081 00:53:39,171 --> 00:53:42,042 and come away." 1082 00:53:42,042 --> 00:53:44,678 What a special love this is! 1083 00:53:44,678 --> 00:53:47,172 Because listen, when the devil fell, 1084 00:53:47,172 --> 00:53:49,557 there was no sweet voice 1085 00:53:49,557 --> 00:53:51,890 bidding him to come away. 1086 00:53:51,890 --> 00:53:54,113 The way is barred for him forever. 1087 00:53:54,113 --> 00:53:55,457 And he would have you think 1088 00:53:55,457 --> 00:53:57,364 that the way is barred to you as well, 1089 00:53:57,364 --> 00:53:59,350 but you remember this: he's a liar. 1090 00:53:59,350 --> 00:54:01,308 He's the father of lies. 1091 00:54:01,308 --> 00:54:05,600 The voice of your Savior is this: 1092 00:54:05,600 --> 00:54:08,793 "Let Me see your face." 1093 00:54:08,793 --> 00:54:10,898 You wake up in the morning; 1094 00:54:10,898 --> 00:54:12,350 this is true all the time. 1095 00:54:12,350 --> 00:54:14,678 It speaks in your ears 1096 00:54:14,678 --> 00:54:19,712 every moment of your saved life. 1097 00:54:19,712 --> 00:54:22,689 "Let Me see your face. 1098 00:54:22,689 --> 00:54:26,876 Let Me hear your voice." 1099 00:54:26,876 --> 00:54:30,158 If you listen to the devil's voice, you know what you'll hear? 1100 00:54:30,158 --> 00:54:33,576 "Well, even if Jesus is bidding somebody to come 1101 00:54:33,576 --> 00:54:37,597 which it seems like in these words He is, 1102 00:54:37,597 --> 00:54:40,339 it's someone who's beautiful. 1103 00:54:40,339 --> 00:54:43,771 And that rules you out. 1104 00:54:43,771 --> 00:54:45,883 And if that actually is Jesus 1105 00:54:45,883 --> 00:54:48,092 saying that He finds you beautiful, 1106 00:54:48,092 --> 00:54:51,239 well, now you know you can't really take Him seriously 1107 00:54:51,239 --> 00:54:56,015 because you know that doesn't describe you." 1108 00:54:56,015 --> 00:54:57,561 Or he just says to us, 1109 00:54:57,561 --> 00:54:58,806 "You know what? 1110 00:54:58,806 --> 00:55:01,553 None of this is Jesus speaking to you at all. 1111 00:55:01,553 --> 00:55:04,452 This is just Solomon talking to one of his women. 1112 00:55:04,452 --> 00:55:07,246 This isn't Jesus talking to you." 1113 00:55:07,246 --> 00:55:10,846 But if you'll listen to Jesus' voice: 1114 00:55:10,846 --> 00:55:12,891 "Let Me see your face. 1115 00:55:12,891 --> 00:55:16,302 Let Me hear your voice. 1116 00:55:16,302 --> 00:55:17,989 For your voice is sweet, 1117 00:55:17,989 --> 00:55:22,503 and your face is lovely." 1118 00:55:22,503 --> 00:55:23,957 And you know, to those of you 1119 00:55:23,957 --> 00:55:27,572 that don't know this Savior, 1120 00:55:27,572 --> 00:55:31,751 there is a text, and it speaks to you. 1121 00:55:31,751 --> 00:55:34,778 It's found in Psalm 45 and it goes this way: 1122 00:55:34,778 --> 00:55:37,956 "Hear, O daughter, and consider 1123 00:55:37,956 --> 00:55:40,389 and incline your ear. 1124 00:55:40,389 --> 00:55:43,027 Forget your people 1125 00:55:43,027 --> 00:55:45,450 and your father's house 1126 00:55:45,450 --> 00:55:49,851 and the King will desire your beauty." 1127 00:55:49,851 --> 00:55:52,760 That's a beautiful picture of repentance. 1128 00:55:52,760 --> 00:55:55,349 Turn away from your ways, 1129 00:55:55,349 --> 00:56:01,374 your people, and turn to Him, 1130 00:56:01,374 --> 00:56:04,703 and look to that blood to wash you, 1131 00:56:04,703 --> 00:56:08,086 and the King will desire your beauty as well. 1132 00:56:08,086 --> 00:56:10,523 But you've got to go to Him to make you beautiful. 1133 00:56:10,523 --> 00:56:13,708 Don't think - don't ever tell somebody, 1134 00:56:13,708 --> 00:56:16,478 "Well, I'm a good person. I'm going to get there." 1135 00:56:16,478 --> 00:56:22,581 If you say that, you are ugly. 1136 00:56:22,581 --> 00:56:24,867 All your best works do - 1137 00:56:24,867 --> 00:56:27,016 the best works of righteousness 1138 00:56:27,016 --> 00:56:30,093 that you accomplish are filthy rags. 1139 00:56:30,093 --> 00:56:32,367 You say, "Well, I'm a good person." 1140 00:56:32,367 --> 00:56:35,261 No, you're not. You're ugly. 1141 00:56:35,261 --> 00:56:39,056 But if you say, "I went to Him in all my sin. 1142 00:56:39,056 --> 00:56:40,885 I cried to Him 1143 00:56:40,885 --> 00:56:42,606 and He's washed me with His blood." 1144 00:56:42,606 --> 00:56:45,192 I'll tell you this, you're perfect. 1145 00:56:45,192 --> 00:56:47,713 There is no spot. There is no blemish. 1146 00:56:47,713 --> 00:56:50,130 And His desire is for you. 1147 00:56:50,130 --> 00:56:52,263 And He wants to commune with you. 1148 00:56:52,263 --> 00:56:53,566 He knocks at that door. 1149 00:56:53,566 --> 00:56:56,624 He says, "Open to Me, so I can come in." 1150 00:56:56,624 --> 00:56:58,652 And we're going to see in chapter 5 1151 00:56:58,652 --> 00:57:00,281 of the Song of Solomon, 1152 00:57:00,281 --> 00:57:03,972 it is to come in and eat 1153 00:57:03,972 --> 00:57:06,607 and it is to come in for intimacy. 1154 00:57:06,607 --> 00:57:08,387 We're talking the picture 1155 00:57:08,387 --> 00:57:12,719 of a bridegroom and his bride. 1156 00:57:12,719 --> 00:57:14,694 This is what He wants with His people. 1157 00:57:14,694 --> 00:57:17,954 Christianity is the best imaginable thing. 1158 00:57:17,954 --> 00:57:22,525 It is being drawn into this world 1159 00:57:22,525 --> 00:57:25,516 of the love of the Savior; 1160 00:57:25,516 --> 00:57:27,552 the attraction of the Savior; 1161 00:57:27,552 --> 00:57:29,322 the purity of the Savior; 1162 00:57:29,322 --> 00:57:32,366 the longings of the Savior; 1163 00:57:32,366 --> 00:57:35,246 the intimacy, the communion and interaction 1164 00:57:35,246 --> 00:57:38,159 with the Savior - this is true Christianity. 1165 00:57:38,159 --> 00:57:42,271 You don't want to fall short of this. 1166 00:57:42,271 --> 00:57:48,865 Don't buy into cheap imitations of Christianity. 1167 00:57:48,865 --> 00:57:51,028 Oh, well, I made a decision. 1168 00:57:51,028 --> 00:57:53,190 I said a prayer. 1169 00:57:53,190 --> 00:57:54,901 People have a form of godliness, 1170 00:57:54,901 --> 00:57:57,170 but they deny the power thereof. 1171 00:57:57,170 --> 00:57:58,350 You don't want that. 1172 00:57:58,350 --> 00:57:59,747 You want this. 1173 00:57:59,747 --> 00:58:01,580 This is good. 1174 00:58:01,580 --> 00:58:08,643 This is a time of singing when you've got this. 1175 00:58:08,643 --> 00:58:10,957 If you don't have this, it's all a mirage. 1176 00:58:10,957 --> 00:58:13,277 It's a fake. It's an imitation. 1177 00:58:13,277 --> 00:58:14,679 You don't want that. 1178 00:58:14,679 --> 00:58:18,241 Religion like that - it's morbid, 1179 00:58:18,241 --> 00:58:20,580 it's horrible. 1180 00:58:20,580 --> 00:58:23,932 You may as well go back to the world than have that. 1181 00:58:23,932 --> 00:58:25,610 It's just a delusion. 1182 00:58:25,610 --> 00:58:27,918 In the end, you spend your whole life religious 1183 00:58:27,918 --> 00:58:29,272 and then you hear His voice. 1184 00:58:29,272 --> 00:58:31,296 "Oh Lord, I did all the things." 1185 00:58:31,296 --> 00:58:34,273 "Depart from Me you workers of lawlessness." 1186 00:58:34,273 --> 00:58:36,997 No, go to Him and have Him 1187 00:58:36,997 --> 00:58:41,881 wash that lawlessness altogether away 1188 00:58:41,881 --> 00:58:45,764 so that you are altogether beautiful. 1189 00:58:45,764 --> 00:58:47,147 Father, I pray, 1190 00:58:47,147 --> 00:58:49,715 may You convince Your people of the reality 1191 00:58:49,715 --> 00:58:52,845 that Christ actually thinks these thoughts 1192 00:58:52,845 --> 00:58:54,608 towards His people. 1193 00:58:54,608 --> 00:58:56,206 Convince us. 1194 00:58:56,206 --> 00:58:59,085 According to the riches of Your glory convince us, 1195 00:58:59,085 --> 00:59:02,342 that we might comprehend the realities of this love. 1196 00:59:02,342 --> 00:59:05,389 I pray in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.