1 00:00:00,048 --> 00:00:02,674 If you would open your Bibles with me, please 2 00:00:02,674 --> 00:00:07,177 to the Song of Solomon 5. 3 00:00:07,177 --> 00:00:10,650 I take the view of this book 4 00:00:10,650 --> 00:00:14,121 held by great men of old. 5 00:00:14,121 --> 00:00:15,680 That the Song of Solomon 6 00:00:15,680 --> 00:00:19,305 is about Jesus Christ and His bride. 7 00:00:19,305 --> 00:00:21,966 But there is an interpretation held 8 00:00:21,966 --> 00:00:23,323 in some circles today 9 00:00:23,323 --> 00:00:24,555 that says that this book 10 00:00:24,555 --> 00:00:26,465 is about nothing more 11 00:00:26,465 --> 00:00:29,259 than the love between a man and a woman. 12 00:00:29,259 --> 00:00:31,406 And I want to very quickly address that 13 00:00:31,406 --> 00:00:33,570 because there may be some of you 14 00:00:33,570 --> 00:00:36,645 perhaps listening that have only ever heard 15 00:00:36,645 --> 00:00:38,954 that interpretation. 16 00:00:38,954 --> 00:00:42,602 And so, let me remind you 17 00:00:42,602 --> 00:00:44,808 that when Jesus rebuked the Pharisees 18 00:00:44,808 --> 00:00:47,940 in John 5, 19 00:00:47,940 --> 00:00:49,447 because in their search, 20 00:00:49,447 --> 00:00:51,503 in their study of Scriptures, 21 00:00:51,503 --> 00:00:53,929 they missed the One Whom 22 00:00:53,929 --> 00:00:57,203 all Scripture was about. 23 00:00:57,203 --> 00:00:58,898 And Jesus did not say there 24 00:00:58,898 --> 00:01:01,078 that these are they which testify, 25 00:01:01,078 --> 00:01:03,255 which speak of Me, 26 00:01:03,255 --> 00:01:06,011 except the Song of Solomon. 27 00:01:06,011 --> 00:01:09,052 But rather, all Scripture, 28 00:01:09,052 --> 00:01:11,264 it communicates to us truth 29 00:01:11,264 --> 00:01:14,509 about Jesus Christ. 30 00:01:14,509 --> 00:01:16,666 You see, marriage itself, we're told 31 00:01:16,666 --> 00:01:20,028 in Ephesians 5:25 is giving us a picture 32 00:01:20,028 --> 00:01:22,865 of Jesus Christ and His bride, 33 00:01:22,865 --> 00:01:23,926 His church. 34 00:01:23,926 --> 00:01:25,218 And we see this allegory 35 00:01:25,218 --> 00:01:29,286 of God and His bride all over Scripture. 36 00:01:29,286 --> 00:01:31,921 So then, the subject matter of this book: 37 00:01:31,921 --> 00:01:33,611 The Song of Solomon, 38 00:01:33,611 --> 00:01:36,153 just like the rest of the Scripture 39 00:01:36,153 --> 00:01:38,576 is a greater than Solomon - 40 00:01:38,576 --> 00:01:39,670 Jesus Christ. 41 00:01:39,670 --> 00:01:45,027 He must have the first place in everything. 42 00:01:45,027 --> 00:01:47,037 And so, this book contains 43 00:01:47,037 --> 00:01:49,824 such beautiful, picturesque allegories 44 00:01:49,824 --> 00:01:51,266 and parables; 45 00:01:51,266 --> 00:01:53,133 it is meant to communicate to us 46 00:01:53,133 --> 00:01:56,633 something of the deep and intimate 47 00:01:56,633 --> 00:02:00,418 love relationship between Jesus Christ 48 00:02:00,418 --> 00:02:03,997 and His bride - His church. 49 00:02:03,997 --> 00:02:06,046 And just to clarify, by "church," 50 00:02:06,046 --> 00:02:07,812 I do not mean a building 51 00:02:07,812 --> 00:02:10,914 or an organization or an institution. 52 00:02:10,914 --> 00:02:13,087 But by "His bride," "His church," 53 00:02:13,087 --> 00:02:15,192 I mean the redeemed people of God; 54 00:02:15,192 --> 00:02:19,464 the true believers of every age. 55 00:02:19,464 --> 00:02:24,372 You see, true Christianity 56 00:02:24,372 --> 00:02:26,899 is a love relationship 57 00:02:26,899 --> 00:02:29,148 between Jesus Christ and His bride, 58 00:02:29,148 --> 00:02:31,116 the believer. 59 00:02:31,116 --> 00:02:35,770 It is about being loved by and loving Him. 60 00:02:35,770 --> 00:02:40,207 It is about knowing and being with Him. 61 00:02:40,207 --> 00:02:41,070 Listen to me now, 62 00:02:41,070 --> 00:02:43,380 because someone can have all the doctrines 63 00:02:43,380 --> 00:02:46,487 lined up like mason work - 64 00:02:46,487 --> 00:02:48,689 stone upon stone - 65 00:02:48,689 --> 00:02:51,306 and may be able to argue theology 66 00:02:51,306 --> 00:02:53,733 as good as any scribe. 67 00:02:53,733 --> 00:02:55,393 But as the Apostle Paul said 68 00:02:55,393 --> 00:02:58,895 if any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, 69 00:02:58,895 --> 00:03:02,207 if you don't have love for Him, 70 00:03:02,207 --> 00:03:06,117 then you're still lost and under a curse. 71 00:03:06,117 --> 00:03:08,013 Have you seen that Jesus Christ 72 00:03:08,013 --> 00:03:11,085 is everything to you? 73 00:03:11,085 --> 00:03:12,668 And so you love 74 00:03:12,668 --> 00:03:13,877 and you desire 75 00:03:13,877 --> 00:03:15,127 and you want Him 76 00:03:15,127 --> 00:03:18,548 more than anything else in life. 77 00:03:18,548 --> 00:03:21,165 Satisfied in Him alone. 78 00:03:21,165 --> 00:03:23,888 You see, that is what a true Christian is. 79 00:03:23,888 --> 00:03:28,258 Someone who loves Jesus. 80 00:03:28,258 --> 00:03:31,294 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, 81 00:03:31,294 --> 00:03:32,818 for once he has been approved, 82 00:03:32,818 --> 00:03:35,153 he will receive a crown of life 83 00:03:35,153 --> 00:03:37,856 which the Lord has promised to who? 84 00:03:37,856 --> 00:03:40,264 To those who love Him. 85 00:03:40,264 --> 00:03:44,750 That is the only way you're going to persevere. 86 00:03:44,750 --> 00:03:46,895 A true Christian, when you boil it down, 87 00:03:46,895 --> 00:03:49,179 is someone who loves Jesus. 88 00:03:49,179 --> 00:03:52,771 Not a Jesus of their own making, of course. 89 00:03:52,771 --> 00:03:55,434 But you love and want Jesus Christ 90 00:03:55,434 --> 00:03:58,385 as He is revealed in the Scriptures. 91 00:03:58,385 --> 00:04:03,626 You want Him more than anything else in life. 92 00:04:03,626 --> 00:04:04,766 Let me ask you, 93 00:04:04,766 --> 00:04:07,787 do you have a form of religion; 94 00:04:07,787 --> 00:04:10,323 a form of Christianity 95 00:04:10,323 --> 00:04:12,113 that really consists of no more 96 00:04:12,113 --> 00:04:15,640 than a well set form of doctrines in your head? 97 00:04:15,640 --> 00:04:20,998 Or has this Word of Christ truly penetrated your heart? 98 00:04:20,998 --> 00:04:24,534 You see, this is life and death. 99 00:04:24,534 --> 00:04:27,472 Listen, despite your failing; 100 00:04:27,472 --> 00:04:29,905 despite, like the bride here in our text, 101 00:04:29,905 --> 00:04:31,879 which we're going to look at in a moment, 102 00:04:31,879 --> 00:04:34,201 you may at times grow cold 103 00:04:34,201 --> 00:04:36,154 in your love for Him. 104 00:04:36,154 --> 00:04:38,535 Can you honestly say like Peter, 105 00:04:38,535 --> 00:04:43,547 "Lord, Thou knowest I love Thee!" 106 00:04:43,547 --> 00:04:46,341 You see, Christianity is not giving 107 00:04:46,341 --> 00:04:51,531 mental assent to a few doctrinal statements. 108 00:04:51,531 --> 00:04:53,566 Ticking off a daily list of rules. 109 00:04:53,566 --> 00:04:56,074 You know, read Bible. Done that once today. 110 00:04:56,074 --> 00:04:58,162 Tick that one off. Prayed. Done that one. 111 00:04:58,162 --> 00:05:01,235 Kept this rule. Kept that rule. 112 00:05:01,235 --> 00:05:05,536 But rather, Christianity is faith working - 113 00:05:05,536 --> 00:05:08,119 real faith always results in good works. 114 00:05:08,119 --> 00:05:13,097 It is faith working through love. 115 00:05:13,097 --> 00:05:15,331 We do those good things 116 00:05:15,331 --> 00:05:17,864 out of love for Him. 117 00:05:17,864 --> 00:05:20,105 And brethren, I am convinced; 118 00:05:20,105 --> 00:05:22,336 I am fully persuaded of this, 119 00:05:22,336 --> 00:05:25,207 that the primary way in which you will grow 120 00:05:25,207 --> 00:05:26,887 as a Christian, 121 00:05:26,887 --> 00:05:28,740 and you will become more like 122 00:05:28,740 --> 00:05:31,204 the Person of Jesus Christ, 123 00:05:31,204 --> 00:05:33,815 is that you learn and you come to know 124 00:05:33,815 --> 00:05:38,451 more of His great love to you, 125 00:05:38,451 --> 00:05:40,312 which is what I want to happen 126 00:05:40,312 --> 00:05:41,760 in this message today. 127 00:05:41,760 --> 00:05:43,316 You see, the Bible says, 128 00:05:43,316 --> 00:05:49,420 we love Him because He first loved us. 129 00:05:49,420 --> 00:05:52,473 The more we truly of His love for us, 130 00:05:52,473 --> 00:05:55,588 the more we will love Him. 131 00:05:55,588 --> 00:05:57,593 So, we must ask, 132 00:05:57,593 --> 00:05:59,983 what does love for Him look like? 133 00:05:59,983 --> 00:06:02,207 What is it evidenced by? 134 00:06:02,207 --> 00:06:04,389 Well, Jesus said, if anyone loves Me, 135 00:06:04,389 --> 00:06:06,941 he will keep My Word. 136 00:06:06,941 --> 00:06:10,021 Whoever does not love Me, 137 00:06:10,021 --> 00:06:13,177 does not keep my words. 138 00:06:13,177 --> 00:06:16,351 So, how do we as Christians increase in this? 139 00:06:16,351 --> 00:06:18,359 How do we as Christians 140 00:06:18,359 --> 00:06:22,452 grow in obedience and become more like Him? 141 00:06:22,452 --> 00:06:25,265 And keep His Word and keep His commands more? 142 00:06:25,265 --> 00:06:28,787 What will motivate us to do this? 143 00:06:28,787 --> 00:06:32,333 Well, if obedience to Him is linked to love to Him, 144 00:06:32,333 --> 00:06:35,710 then we grow in obedience to Him 145 00:06:35,710 --> 00:06:39,091 when we grow in love for Him. 146 00:06:39,091 --> 00:06:42,108 So then, how do we come to love Him more? 147 00:06:42,108 --> 00:06:47,422 Well, we love Him because He first loved us. 148 00:06:47,422 --> 00:06:48,469 Brethren, hear me. 149 00:06:48,469 --> 00:06:49,649 The more you know - 150 00:06:49,649 --> 00:06:53,026 the more you personally know, 151 00:06:53,026 --> 00:06:55,513 not just in a general sense 152 00:06:55,513 --> 00:06:57,456 of His love for everyone, 153 00:06:57,456 --> 00:06:59,784 but Him even more you personally know 154 00:06:59,784 --> 00:07:01,961 and you take ownership of these truths 155 00:07:01,961 --> 00:07:04,155 of His love for you. 156 00:07:04,155 --> 00:07:06,580 This will cause you to love Him more; 157 00:07:06,580 --> 00:07:09,518 to lean upon and trust Him more, 158 00:07:09,518 --> 00:07:14,478 and act in obedience in love to Him 159 00:07:14,478 --> 00:07:17,963 out of love for Him. 160 00:07:17,963 --> 00:07:19,680 And so, I want you to see now 161 00:07:19,680 --> 00:07:22,117 in these verses which we're going to read, 162 00:07:22,117 --> 00:07:25,599 how Christ woos and He draws His bride 163 00:07:25,599 --> 00:07:28,396 by His sovereign love - 164 00:07:28,396 --> 00:07:31,823 a love that passes all understanding. 165 00:07:31,823 --> 00:07:35,141 And even when in times like the bride 166 00:07:35,141 --> 00:07:38,415 here in this text, grows cold towards Christ, 167 00:07:38,415 --> 00:07:39,753 His love for her - 168 00:07:39,753 --> 00:07:42,291 His love for you, believer, 169 00:07:42,291 --> 00:07:45,734 is passionate and unfailing. 170 00:07:45,734 --> 00:07:47,323 And let this motivate you 171 00:07:47,323 --> 00:07:49,222 to keep yourself in the love of God; 172 00:07:49,222 --> 00:07:52,197 to cling to Him. 173 00:07:52,197 --> 00:07:55,427 And so, let's look and learn of this now 174 00:07:55,427 --> 00:07:57,996 as we read Song of Solomon, 175 00:07:57,996 --> 00:08:02,232 and I'm going to read from chapter 5, 176 00:08:02,232 --> 00:08:04,553 from verses 2-6. 177 00:08:04,553 --> 00:08:08,273 We'll probably touch on a couple more verses as well. 178 00:08:08,273 --> 00:08:10,993 But I'll just read v. 2-6 now 179 00:08:10,993 --> 00:08:14,769 and then we'll pray. 180 00:08:14,769 --> 00:08:18,641 "I sleep, but my heart waketh. 181 00:08:18,641 --> 00:08:21,802 It is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, 182 00:08:21,802 --> 00:08:24,649 saying, 'open to me, 183 00:08:24,649 --> 00:08:27,547 my sister, my love, my dove, 184 00:08:27,547 --> 00:08:29,919 my undefiled. 185 00:08:29,919 --> 00:08:31,686 For my head is filled with dew 186 00:08:31,686 --> 00:08:36,097 and my locks with the drops of the night.' 187 00:08:36,097 --> 00:08:37,874 I have put off my coat; 188 00:08:37,874 --> 00:08:39,391 how shall I put it on? 189 00:08:39,391 --> 00:08:40,708 I have washed my feet; 190 00:08:40,708 --> 00:08:43,166 how shall I defile them? 191 00:08:43,166 --> 00:08:44,780 My beloved put his hand 192 00:08:44,780 --> 00:08:46,542 by the hole of the door 193 00:08:46,542 --> 00:08:49,215 and my bowels were moved for him. 194 00:08:49,215 --> 00:08:53,168 I rose up to open to my beloved; 195 00:08:53,168 --> 00:08:55,272 and my hands dropped with myrrh, 196 00:08:55,272 --> 00:08:57,834 and my fingers with sweet smelling myrrh 197 00:08:57,834 --> 00:09:00,812 upon the handles of the lock. 198 00:09:00,812 --> 00:09:02,275 I opened to my beloved, 199 00:09:02,275 --> 00:09:04,688 but my beloved had withdrawn himself 200 00:09:04,688 --> 00:09:06,020 and was gone. 201 00:09:06,020 --> 00:09:07,798 My soul failed. 202 00:09:07,798 --> 00:09:10,497 When he spake, I sought him, 203 00:09:10,497 --> 00:09:12,744 but I could not find him. 204 00:09:12,744 --> 00:09:16,963 I called him, but he gave me no answer." 205 00:09:16,963 --> 00:09:20,816 Let's pray. 206 00:09:20,816 --> 00:09:23,416 Oh, Father, I pray now 207 00:09:23,416 --> 00:09:27,171 as we look at these glorious truths 208 00:09:27,171 --> 00:09:30,135 of Your unfailing love towards us, 209 00:09:30,135 --> 00:09:33,963 may Your Spirit teach us now, Lord. 210 00:09:33,963 --> 00:09:38,396 We don't want to just learn Bible trivia today. 211 00:09:38,396 --> 00:09:42,101 But, Lord, help us to own this truth 212 00:09:42,101 --> 00:09:44,327 that we can see saying, my beloved - 213 00:09:44,327 --> 00:09:48,431 these words of Christ - is mine. 214 00:09:48,431 --> 00:09:50,968 Help them belong to us now. 215 00:09:50,968 --> 00:09:54,079 I pray, Lord, 216 00:09:54,079 --> 00:10:00,090 You would shine Your love into our hearts. 217 00:10:00,090 --> 00:10:03,081 Help us, Lord. Have mercy. 218 00:10:03,081 --> 00:10:04,541 In Jesus' name, 219 00:10:04,541 --> 00:10:09,169 Amen. 220 00:10:09,169 --> 00:10:13,072 Ok, so, in the preceding chapters of this book, 221 00:10:13,072 --> 00:10:15,875 the bride of Christ - the believer - 222 00:10:15,875 --> 00:10:17,628 she has experienced many 223 00:10:17,628 --> 00:10:20,416 wonderful times of knowing 224 00:10:20,416 --> 00:10:23,309 Christ's love and His presence. 225 00:10:23,309 --> 00:10:27,053 And every time when she has grown cold 226 00:10:27,053 --> 00:10:30,668 towards Him, Jesus has never once 227 00:10:30,668 --> 00:10:33,872 cooled His love for her. 228 00:10:33,872 --> 00:10:36,513 And immediately before our text in v. 1, 229 00:10:36,513 --> 00:10:38,552 the bride is once again, 230 00:10:38,552 --> 00:10:41,135 she is experiencing a refreshing time 231 00:10:41,135 --> 00:10:44,992 of Christ's love and sweet fellowship with Him. 232 00:10:44,992 --> 00:10:47,439 However, v. 2 begins with what should 233 00:10:47,439 --> 00:10:49,995 really be a new chapter here. 234 00:10:49,995 --> 00:10:52,028 It's kind of an awkward chapter break. 235 00:10:52,028 --> 00:10:54,980 (He's referring to a break between Song of Solomon 5:1 and 5:2.) 236 00:10:54,980 --> 00:10:56,283 And so sometime has elapsed 237 00:10:56,283 --> 00:10:58,289 between v. 1 and v. 2 here. 238 00:10:58,289 --> 00:10:59,615 Because if you notice that, 239 00:10:59,615 --> 00:11:01,991 after a previous season of feeling close 240 00:11:01,991 --> 00:11:03,275 to the heart of Christ 241 00:11:03,275 --> 00:11:04,748 and clinging to Him in love, 242 00:11:04,748 --> 00:11:08,314 in v. 2 here, a season of night 243 00:11:08,314 --> 00:11:11,910 has once come again upon the believer. 244 00:11:11,910 --> 00:11:14,628 The bride here in v. 2 is once again 245 00:11:14,628 --> 00:11:17,634 in a season of darkness. 246 00:11:17,634 --> 00:11:20,498 Does that sound familiar? 247 00:11:20,498 --> 00:11:23,251 And so, in v. 2 here, 248 00:11:23,251 --> 00:11:26,465 as Christ comes to the believer's door, 249 00:11:26,465 --> 00:11:29,852 the bride says, "I sleep, 250 00:11:29,852 --> 00:11:31,925 but my heart waketh. 251 00:11:31,925 --> 00:11:35,299 It is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, 252 00:11:35,299 --> 00:11:38,605 saying, 'open to me.'" 253 00:11:38,605 --> 00:11:40,677 So, notice here in this verse, 254 00:11:40,677 --> 00:11:42,398 that Christ at this time, 255 00:11:42,398 --> 00:11:45,252 He has somewhat withdrawn His presence, 256 00:11:45,252 --> 00:11:46,869 because at this point, 257 00:11:46,869 --> 00:11:49,265 He is outside of her house here 258 00:11:49,265 --> 00:11:50,923 and knocking. 259 00:11:50,923 --> 00:11:55,042 The bride here, she has locked Him out. 260 00:11:55,042 --> 00:11:58,179 So, firstly, I want you to notice 261 00:11:58,179 --> 00:12:00,116 the current state of the believer 262 00:12:00,116 --> 00:12:01,292 here in this text. 263 00:12:01,292 --> 00:12:05,154 I want you to notice her current attitude, 264 00:12:05,154 --> 00:12:07,290 which has caused Christ 265 00:12:07,290 --> 00:12:09,284 to withdraw Himself. 266 00:12:09,284 --> 00:12:14,469 She says, "I sleep, but my heart waketh." 267 00:12:14,469 --> 00:12:15,791 At this point in time, 268 00:12:15,791 --> 00:12:20,016 she is half asleep, half awake. 269 00:12:20,016 --> 00:12:21,876 She's half for Christ, 270 00:12:21,876 --> 00:12:25,051 half for the cares of this world and for self. 271 00:12:25,051 --> 00:12:28,022 She is compromised. 272 00:12:28,022 --> 00:12:29,787 Brethren, maybe this sermon finds you 273 00:12:29,787 --> 00:12:32,759 this morning in a place of compromise; 274 00:12:32,759 --> 00:12:35,053 in a place of half-heartedness; 275 00:12:35,053 --> 00:12:36,588 a place of struggle. 276 00:12:36,588 --> 00:12:38,854 Maybe you've even been real busy 277 00:12:38,854 --> 00:12:41,780 doing Christian things. 278 00:12:41,780 --> 00:12:43,942 But in all your running around; 279 00:12:43,942 --> 00:12:46,236 in all your busyness, 280 00:12:46,236 --> 00:12:47,329 listen to me, 281 00:12:47,329 --> 00:12:49,489 never forget. 282 00:12:49,489 --> 00:12:51,502 Never lose sight of the One 283 00:12:51,502 --> 00:12:58,730 Who you are to do all those things for and with. 284 00:12:58,730 --> 00:13:01,403 In Revelation 2, we hear of Christ 285 00:13:01,403 --> 00:13:03,846 speak to the church of Ephesus. 286 00:13:03,846 --> 00:13:04,841 And He says to them, 287 00:13:04,841 --> 00:13:06,391 I know your works and your labor 288 00:13:06,391 --> 00:13:07,756 and your patience 289 00:13:07,756 --> 00:13:10,006 and how you cannot bear them 290 00:13:10,006 --> 00:13:11,674 which are evil. 291 00:13:11,674 --> 00:13:13,786 And you've tested them which say 292 00:13:13,786 --> 00:13:14,907 they are apostles 293 00:13:14,907 --> 00:13:16,640 and you've found them to be liars. 294 00:13:16,640 --> 00:13:19,564 And He goes on commending them there. 295 00:13:19,564 --> 00:13:21,796 How they have endured and they've labored 296 00:13:21,796 --> 00:13:25,565 with much patience for Christ's name's sake. 297 00:13:25,565 --> 00:13:28,225 But then He says, "nevertheless..." 298 00:13:28,225 --> 00:13:29,683 "I have this against you, 299 00:13:29,683 --> 00:13:34,392 because you have left your first love." 300 00:13:34,392 --> 00:13:36,227 You see, in doing all those things 301 00:13:36,227 --> 00:13:38,177 and all the busyness, 302 00:13:38,177 --> 00:13:42,963 the church there at Ephesus became mechanical. 303 00:13:42,963 --> 00:13:45,111 Because love to Christ 304 00:13:45,111 --> 00:13:50,507 was no longer at the center of it all. 305 00:13:50,507 --> 00:13:52,348 Now, what I want you to see here 306 00:13:52,348 --> 00:13:56,038 in this text is the love of Christ 307 00:13:56,038 --> 00:13:58,762 and His attitude toward the believer 308 00:13:58,762 --> 00:14:01,689 when or if we ever get like that. 309 00:14:01,689 --> 00:14:04,794 Notice here: Christ is knocking at the door 310 00:14:04,794 --> 00:14:06,746 of the believer's heart here. 311 00:14:06,746 --> 00:14:09,210 And He is calling out to her 312 00:14:09,210 --> 00:14:13,424 to open up fully to Him. 313 00:14:13,424 --> 00:14:16,403 Maybe this sermon finds you in a place, 314 00:14:16,403 --> 00:14:17,748 or if you're a Christian, 315 00:14:17,748 --> 00:14:19,567 I certainly suspect there are times 316 00:14:19,567 --> 00:14:21,102 when you feel like Christ 317 00:14:21,102 --> 00:14:26,070 has withdrawn His presence from you, 318 00:14:26,070 --> 00:14:29,390 where He's standing at the door of your heart, 319 00:14:29,390 --> 00:14:31,308 because in your compromised 320 00:14:31,308 --> 00:14:33,720 and half-hearted state in love to Him, 321 00:14:33,720 --> 00:14:36,919 you've locked Him out. 322 00:14:36,919 --> 00:14:38,939 You see believers, when Christ 323 00:14:38,939 --> 00:14:41,148 withdraws His presence like this, 324 00:14:41,148 --> 00:14:44,116 it is not because He is angry with you, 325 00:14:44,116 --> 00:14:47,314 but because He wants what is best for you, believers. 326 00:14:47,314 --> 00:14:50,754 He wants you to learn to cling to Him, 327 00:14:50,754 --> 00:14:53,424 which is what happens to the bride in this book. 328 00:14:53,424 --> 00:14:55,386 By the time you get to chapter 8, 329 00:14:55,386 --> 00:14:58,147 she knows the love of Christ 330 00:14:58,147 --> 00:14:59,284 to be unfailing 331 00:14:59,284 --> 00:15:01,052 and she comes out of the wilderness 332 00:15:01,052 --> 00:15:04,547 leaning upon her beloved. 333 00:15:04,547 --> 00:15:06,739 You know, coming to maturity 334 00:15:06,739 --> 00:15:09,019 as a Christian, 335 00:15:09,019 --> 00:15:13,549 it is really clinging to Christ more. 336 00:15:13,549 --> 00:15:16,821 It's the opposite of worldly maturity 337 00:15:16,821 --> 00:15:20,029 in which people become more independent. 338 00:15:20,029 --> 00:15:21,832 You see, in Christian maturity, 339 00:15:21,832 --> 00:15:26,425 we grow in being dependant upon Him. 340 00:15:26,425 --> 00:15:29,011 And so, what is happening here, 341 00:15:29,011 --> 00:15:32,171 is that Christ, in great love for His spouse, 342 00:15:32,171 --> 00:15:34,112 He is chastening the believer here 343 00:15:34,112 --> 00:15:36,672 in a compromised, half-hearted state 344 00:15:36,672 --> 00:15:38,893 as a father chastens those, 345 00:15:38,893 --> 00:15:40,449 his son in whom He loves, 346 00:15:40,449 --> 00:15:42,990 in whom He delights. 347 00:15:42,990 --> 00:15:47,259 And brethren, we must learn to be careful 348 00:15:47,259 --> 00:15:49,126 not to provoke Christ 349 00:15:49,126 --> 00:15:52,834 to withdraw the sense of His presence. 350 00:15:52,834 --> 00:15:56,283 We're told in the New Testament 351 00:15:56,283 --> 00:15:59,407 to be careful not to quench the Spirit; 352 00:15:59,407 --> 00:16:01,467 not to grieve the Holy Spirit of God. 353 00:16:01,467 --> 00:16:03,542 As Paul said to Timothy, 354 00:16:03,542 --> 00:16:08,014 take pains to walk in a clear conscience. 355 00:16:08,014 --> 00:16:10,275 Take pains. This sometimes hurts. 356 00:16:10,275 --> 00:16:13,546 You have to cut things off to do it. 357 00:16:13,546 --> 00:16:17,702 Do not walk, believer, in unconfessed sin. 358 00:16:17,702 --> 00:16:22,270 But quickly confess it and forsake it. 359 00:16:22,270 --> 00:16:26,466 Do not live with a defiled conscience. 360 00:16:26,466 --> 00:16:27,912 You see, in the Song of Songs 361 00:16:27,912 --> 00:16:30,092 we're given this principle several times 362 00:16:30,092 --> 00:16:32,623 where the bride of Christ, see, 363 00:16:32,623 --> 00:16:35,316 she exalts these daughters of Jerusalem. 364 00:16:35,316 --> 00:16:43,085 Now these are less mature or new converts. 365 00:16:43,085 --> 00:16:47,800 And this is really the maturer believer 366 00:16:47,800 --> 00:16:49,932 exhorting the younger. 367 00:16:49,932 --> 00:16:53,012 And she exhorts them that ye stir not up, 368 00:16:53,012 --> 00:16:57,085 nor awake my love until he please. 369 00:16:57,085 --> 00:16:59,086 Now, the idea here is like, 370 00:16:59,086 --> 00:17:03,076 supposing I'm sat at home on my sofa, 371 00:17:03,076 --> 00:17:08,561 and I'm asleep and my wife is cuddled up to me, 372 00:17:08,561 --> 00:17:11,291 my right hand is under her head 373 00:17:11,291 --> 00:17:13,917 and my left hand doth embrace her. 374 00:17:13,917 --> 00:17:16,562 And she's just enjoying that loving position, 375 00:17:16,562 --> 00:17:20,037 and then the children come running in 376 00:17:20,037 --> 00:17:22,863 and so my wife Zoe says, 377 00:17:22,863 --> 00:17:28,511 shhh... don't wake your daddy up. 378 00:17:28,511 --> 00:17:30,879 Because she likes this position. 379 00:17:30,879 --> 00:17:33,927 She wants to stay there. 380 00:17:33,927 --> 00:17:36,605 So, she doesn't want them 381 00:17:36,605 --> 00:17:40,116 to stir up, giving me any reason 382 00:17:40,116 --> 00:17:43,125 to remove myself from that position of love 383 00:17:43,125 --> 00:17:46,699 before I would naturally wake up. 384 00:17:46,699 --> 00:17:48,383 The teaching there for Christians 385 00:17:48,383 --> 00:17:51,166 is be careful - be very careful 386 00:17:51,166 --> 00:17:53,876 not to stir up Christ 387 00:17:53,876 --> 00:18:01,831 to withdraw His presence from you. 388 00:18:01,831 --> 00:18:03,942 Now, the next thing I want you to notice, 389 00:18:03,942 --> 00:18:05,972 believer, in this text 390 00:18:05,972 --> 00:18:09,207 is that in our coldness to Him, 391 00:18:09,207 --> 00:18:11,635 I want you to notice how He acts 392 00:18:11,635 --> 00:18:13,989 towards you. 393 00:18:13,989 --> 00:18:16,286 Notice here, in v. 2, the bride, 394 00:18:16,286 --> 00:18:19,765 she is being awakened from her sleep at this point. 395 00:18:19,765 --> 00:18:22,456 She is being awakened from a state 396 00:18:22,456 --> 00:18:25,334 of spiritual slumber. 397 00:18:25,334 --> 00:18:27,221 And when you fall into that state, 398 00:18:27,221 --> 00:18:28,770 the only reason you will awake 399 00:18:28,770 --> 00:18:31,810 is because Christ knocks. 400 00:18:31,810 --> 00:18:34,706 And she is being awakened here by Christ 401 00:18:34,706 --> 00:18:36,745 banging out on the door 402 00:18:36,745 --> 00:18:40,401 calling out to her. 403 00:18:40,401 --> 00:18:42,581 You see, the knocking here, 404 00:18:42,581 --> 00:18:45,508 it's in the sense of Revelation 3:20 405 00:18:45,508 --> 00:18:48,276 where it's not like a gentle and polite knock, 406 00:18:48,276 --> 00:18:50,676 but it's like a hammer. 407 00:18:50,676 --> 00:18:53,290 Bang, bang, bang, bang! 408 00:18:53,290 --> 00:18:55,686 This knock is from One Who 409 00:18:55,686 --> 00:18:57,439 out of great love to you, believer, 410 00:18:57,439 --> 00:19:01,166 is desperate for you to open up to Him, 411 00:19:01,166 --> 00:19:03,785 so that He can come and be with you 412 00:19:03,785 --> 00:19:06,337 and you with Him. 413 00:19:06,337 --> 00:19:10,874 But also notice, Jesus doesn't just knock. 414 00:19:10,874 --> 00:19:13,099 But in your half-hearted state 415 00:19:13,099 --> 00:19:14,374 of neglect to Him, 416 00:19:14,374 --> 00:19:17,179 He calls out to you 417 00:19:17,179 --> 00:19:19,580 and He says, "Open to Me, 418 00:19:19,580 --> 00:19:23,416 My sister, My love, My dove, My undefiled. 419 00:19:23,416 --> 00:19:25,711 For My head is filled with dew; 420 00:19:25,711 --> 00:19:31,876 My locks with the drops of the night." 421 00:19:31,876 --> 00:19:35,336 And brethren, how often is this 422 00:19:35,336 --> 00:19:37,888 that when we fall into a state 423 00:19:37,888 --> 00:19:39,816 of spiritual slumber, 424 00:19:39,816 --> 00:19:41,361 and it feels as though Christ 425 00:19:41,361 --> 00:19:43,387 is distant from us - 426 00:19:43,387 --> 00:19:45,632 it's not that we can't hear Christ 427 00:19:45,632 --> 00:19:48,426 knocking at the door. 428 00:19:48,426 --> 00:19:50,043 It's not that those promises 429 00:19:50,043 --> 00:19:52,908 suddenly disappear from His Word. 430 00:19:52,908 --> 00:19:55,172 It's not that you can't hear the voice 431 00:19:55,172 --> 00:19:59,314 of your Beloved crying out to you to open up. 432 00:19:59,314 --> 00:20:02,738 But in the Christian's determination 433 00:20:02,738 --> 00:20:05,247 to hold on to some idol; 434 00:20:05,247 --> 00:20:08,862 to hold on to some pathetic state of compromise, 435 00:20:08,862 --> 00:20:11,189 which is between the believer and Christ, 436 00:20:11,189 --> 00:20:14,894 the bride locks Him out. 437 00:20:14,894 --> 00:20:16,554 And even when He knocks 438 00:20:16,554 --> 00:20:18,332 and pleads for you, 439 00:20:18,332 --> 00:20:20,709 you are still stubborn 440 00:20:20,709 --> 00:20:22,589 and won't repent straightaway 441 00:20:22,589 --> 00:20:24,558 and return to your first love. 442 00:20:24,558 --> 00:20:25,893 And so you stay in bed 443 00:20:25,893 --> 00:20:27,123 and you make excuses 444 00:20:27,123 --> 00:20:28,842 which we'll see in a moment, 445 00:20:28,842 --> 00:20:31,712 like the bride does here. 446 00:20:31,712 --> 00:20:33,290 You know, so often, 447 00:20:33,290 --> 00:20:37,358 I've heard believers who are in this state, 448 00:20:37,358 --> 00:20:40,109 where they have some compromise 449 00:20:40,109 --> 00:20:41,385 in love to Christ, 450 00:20:41,385 --> 00:20:42,707 and they say things like, 451 00:20:42,707 --> 00:20:45,932 I feel like Christ has withdrawn His presence from me. 452 00:20:45,932 --> 00:20:47,682 I feel like He's distant from me, 453 00:20:47,682 --> 00:20:51,598 and He's not revealing Himself to me. 454 00:20:51,598 --> 00:20:55,121 But you know, He's hiding His face from me - 455 00:20:55,121 --> 00:20:59,312 as if Christ is to blame. 456 00:20:59,312 --> 00:21:02,137 Let me ask you, what would you think, believer? 457 00:21:02,137 --> 00:21:03,674 If you went to the house 458 00:21:03,674 --> 00:21:07,608 of one of your married ladies in your church. 459 00:21:07,608 --> 00:21:09,723 And all over the house, 460 00:21:09,723 --> 00:21:11,767 you could see notes 461 00:21:11,767 --> 00:21:14,857 that the husband had given to his wife, 462 00:21:14,857 --> 00:21:16,704 saying come away with me, my love. 463 00:21:16,704 --> 00:21:18,762 I just love you so much. 464 00:21:18,762 --> 00:21:22,850 I want to be alone with you. 465 00:21:22,850 --> 00:21:25,715 And your friend, she got a text message 466 00:21:25,715 --> 00:21:27,306 from her husband. 467 00:21:27,306 --> 00:21:28,563 And you're sat next to her 468 00:21:28,563 --> 00:21:31,105 and so you sort of lean over 469 00:21:31,105 --> 00:21:32,803 and have a sneaky read 470 00:21:32,803 --> 00:21:36,814 like ladies often do. 471 00:21:36,814 --> 00:21:39,846 But it said the same thing. 472 00:21:39,846 --> 00:21:41,978 Now what would you think if that wife 473 00:21:41,978 --> 00:21:44,655 then turned around to you and said, 474 00:21:44,655 --> 00:21:49,322 I think my husband is ignoring me? 475 00:21:49,322 --> 00:21:53,405 I think he's gone cold on me. 476 00:21:53,405 --> 00:21:54,760 Believers, listen to me, 477 00:21:54,760 --> 00:22:00,623 Christ never grows cold in His love for you. 478 00:22:00,623 --> 00:22:03,747 The next thing I want you to see here in this text 479 00:22:03,747 --> 00:22:06,675 is look with me in v. 2. 480 00:22:06,675 --> 00:22:08,772 That in the times the believer 481 00:22:08,772 --> 00:22:10,881 has been cold towards Christ, 482 00:22:10,881 --> 00:22:13,315 I want you to take notice here 483 00:22:13,315 --> 00:22:15,152 of Christ's plea for you 484 00:22:15,152 --> 00:22:18,579 to open your heart fully to Him. 485 00:22:18,579 --> 00:22:20,864 Look at His plea here. 486 00:22:20,864 --> 00:22:22,822 There's no fault on His part. 487 00:22:22,822 --> 00:22:24,445 He begins by saying to you, 488 00:22:24,445 --> 00:22:28,759 Open to Me. 489 00:22:28,759 --> 00:22:31,268 Believer, that should be reason enough 490 00:22:31,268 --> 00:22:33,087 for you to open the door, 491 00:22:33,087 --> 00:22:34,618 because of Who He is 492 00:22:34,618 --> 00:22:36,605 Who is knocking at your heart 493 00:22:36,605 --> 00:22:39,093 and calling out to you. 494 00:22:39,093 --> 00:22:41,340 This is the great I AM. 495 00:22:41,340 --> 00:22:42,635 This is the God Who spoke 496 00:22:42,635 --> 00:22:45,508 the universe into existence. 497 00:22:45,508 --> 00:22:47,602 I mean, I'm sure there must be 498 00:22:47,602 --> 00:22:49,824 some person whom you somewhat 499 00:22:49,824 --> 00:22:52,920 admire and esteem. 500 00:22:52,920 --> 00:22:56,010 And if he, or perhaps, she contacted you 501 00:22:56,010 --> 00:22:57,773 and wanted to come over 502 00:22:57,773 --> 00:23:00,415 and have some fellowship with you, 503 00:23:00,415 --> 00:23:02,600 and you'd be really, really excited 504 00:23:02,600 --> 00:23:05,432 about this person coming to visit. 505 00:23:05,432 --> 00:23:07,194 And you're changing your schedule 506 00:23:07,194 --> 00:23:09,969 to fit him in. 507 00:23:09,969 --> 00:23:12,643 Maybe as we're in a church here, 508 00:23:12,643 --> 00:23:16,184 maybe for you it would be a famous preacher 509 00:23:16,184 --> 00:23:17,357 like a John Piper 510 00:23:17,357 --> 00:23:22,021 or a Paul Washer. 511 00:23:22,021 --> 00:23:25,259 Brethren, is it not more exciting 512 00:23:25,259 --> 00:23:29,352 that God wants to have fellowship with you? 513 00:23:29,352 --> 00:23:31,293 That He wants you to come away 514 00:23:31,293 --> 00:23:34,089 and be alone with Him? 515 00:23:34,089 --> 00:23:35,818 You know, it should make us wonder 516 00:23:35,818 --> 00:23:39,278 that God would even knock at our door. 517 00:23:39,278 --> 00:23:42,279 It should astound you, believer, in amazement, 518 00:23:42,279 --> 00:23:46,058 that God would want anything to do with you. 519 00:23:46,058 --> 00:23:50,184 You see, when you're just content 520 00:23:50,184 --> 00:23:52,684 to go on casually in your slumber 521 00:23:52,684 --> 00:23:55,200 and neglect communion with Him, 522 00:23:55,200 --> 00:23:58,492 then at least two things have become manifest. 523 00:23:58,492 --> 00:24:00,509 Number one, you've lost a sense 524 00:24:00,509 --> 00:24:02,264 of Who God is. 525 00:24:02,264 --> 00:24:03,436 To leave Him at the door 526 00:24:03,436 --> 00:24:06,231 and carry on in our compromised state. 527 00:24:06,231 --> 00:24:07,960 And number two, when this happens, 528 00:24:07,960 --> 00:24:11,428 we have developed an over-inflated opinion 529 00:24:11,428 --> 00:24:13,684 of who we are. 530 00:24:13,684 --> 00:24:15,128 To leave Him outside 531 00:24:15,128 --> 00:24:18,152 and be cold to His calling 532 00:24:18,152 --> 00:24:21,977 to have fellowship with Him in everything. 533 00:24:21,977 --> 00:24:23,804 And so let's look at the second part 534 00:24:23,804 --> 00:24:25,084 of Christ's plea here 535 00:24:25,084 --> 00:24:26,937 for you to open up to Him. 536 00:24:26,937 --> 00:24:28,662 Look what He says to you here. 537 00:24:28,662 --> 00:24:34,720 He says, "My sister." 538 00:24:34,720 --> 00:24:36,476 You see, like Abraham and Sarah, 539 00:24:36,476 --> 00:24:40,139 Christ is not only the believer's husband, 540 00:24:40,139 --> 00:24:45,715 but He is also the believer's elder brother. 541 00:24:45,715 --> 00:24:48,153 But whereas Abraham at times, 542 00:24:48,153 --> 00:24:50,333 denied and forsook his bride, 543 00:24:50,333 --> 00:24:53,474 because he wanted to protect his own life, 544 00:24:53,474 --> 00:24:55,010 a greater than Abraham 545 00:24:55,010 --> 00:25:02,602 willingly laid down His life for His bride. 546 00:25:02,602 --> 00:25:06,709 And when the Bible speaks of Christ in this way, 547 00:25:06,709 --> 00:25:07,990 as our Brother, 548 00:25:07,990 --> 00:25:11,345 it is speaking of His humanity. 549 00:25:11,345 --> 00:25:12,925 In all things, Christ was 550 00:25:12,925 --> 00:25:17,023 made like unto His brethren. 551 00:25:17,023 --> 00:25:21,451 You see, Jesus was and is fully God. 552 00:25:21,451 --> 00:25:23,988 Without beginning and without end. 553 00:25:23,988 --> 00:25:25,318 But at a point in time, 554 00:25:25,318 --> 00:25:28,725 He became humanity. 555 00:25:28,725 --> 00:25:30,190 You see, we do not have a God 556 00:25:30,190 --> 00:25:32,569 Who is distant like Allah. 557 00:25:32,569 --> 00:25:34,046 We do not have a God 558 00:25:34,046 --> 00:25:38,801 that only knows in theory how we feel 559 00:25:38,801 --> 00:25:40,173 because He knows all things 560 00:25:40,173 --> 00:25:43,827 like a sort of academic paper. 561 00:25:43,827 --> 00:25:46,145 Because, let me remind you brethren, 562 00:25:46,145 --> 00:25:50,007 that when He took on humanity, 563 00:25:50,007 --> 00:25:51,700 Jesus - He did not become this 564 00:25:51,700 --> 00:25:54,829 super bullet-proof human being. 565 00:25:54,829 --> 00:25:57,412 But He became fully man. 566 00:25:57,412 --> 00:26:01,121 And so He felt firsthand what we feel. 567 00:26:01,121 --> 00:26:04,664 He experienced what we go through. 568 00:26:04,664 --> 00:26:07,635 He hungered; He thirsted like we do. 569 00:26:07,635 --> 00:26:11,954 He sat thus exhausted by the well. 570 00:26:11,954 --> 00:26:13,807 When Jesus went to the tomb 571 00:26:13,807 --> 00:26:17,149 of His friend Lazarus and Lazarus died, 572 00:26:17,149 --> 00:26:18,719 even though He knew He was 573 00:26:18,719 --> 00:26:21,481 about to raise His friend Lazarus, 574 00:26:21,481 --> 00:26:24,152 it says, "Jesus wept." 575 00:26:24,152 --> 00:26:25,700 He wailed there. 576 00:26:25,700 --> 00:26:27,892 Why? 577 00:26:27,892 --> 00:26:29,926 I mean, if He was about to raise Him, 578 00:26:29,926 --> 00:26:32,344 why did He weep? 579 00:26:32,344 --> 00:26:36,668 The answer is because He loved Lazarus. 580 00:26:36,668 --> 00:26:39,039 Jesus, being fully humanity, 581 00:26:39,039 --> 00:26:40,676 He experienced what we feel 582 00:26:40,676 --> 00:26:45,589 at the death of a loved one. 583 00:26:45,589 --> 00:26:47,427 Last time, I preached that somewhere, 584 00:26:47,427 --> 00:26:49,573 I got an email from somewhere claiming that 585 00:26:49,573 --> 00:26:52,630 God does not have feelings. 586 00:26:52,630 --> 00:26:54,274 My Bible says we do not have 587 00:26:54,274 --> 00:26:57,388 a great high priest Who cannot be touched 588 00:26:57,388 --> 00:27:00,676 with feelings. 589 00:27:00,676 --> 00:27:02,795 As it says there in the book of Hebrews, 590 00:27:02,795 --> 00:27:05,273 we do not have a high priest - 591 00:27:05,273 --> 00:27:07,105 a representative - 592 00:27:07,105 --> 00:27:09,365 who is unable to sympathize 593 00:27:09,365 --> 00:27:13,008 with our infirmaties; with our weaknesses, 594 00:27:13,008 --> 00:27:15,876 but One who was in all points tempted 595 00:27:15,876 --> 00:27:20,201 like we are tempted, and yet without sin. 596 00:27:20,201 --> 00:27:21,500 And so therefore, we have 597 00:27:21,500 --> 00:27:24,014 a sympathetic God. 598 00:27:24,014 --> 00:27:26,313 We are told there to go boldly 599 00:27:26,313 --> 00:27:28,566 to His throne of grace to find help 600 00:27:28,566 --> 00:27:32,967 in time of need. 601 00:27:32,967 --> 00:27:34,522 You see, is it not true 602 00:27:34,522 --> 00:27:37,443 that often when the believer is being tormented, 603 00:27:37,443 --> 00:27:39,371 when the believer is struggling, 604 00:27:39,371 --> 00:27:41,582 in that time of need, 605 00:27:41,582 --> 00:27:43,894 they feel like they can't go 606 00:27:43,894 --> 00:27:46,873 to His throne of grace in that state. 607 00:27:46,873 --> 00:27:48,584 But you must own this truth 608 00:27:48,584 --> 00:27:50,445 that this is the time He tells you 609 00:27:50,445 --> 00:27:55,734 to go boldly to Him. 610 00:27:55,734 --> 00:27:58,975 The One Who knocks at your door here, believer, 611 00:27:58,975 --> 00:28:01,257 He's not angry with you because you've fallen, 612 00:28:01,257 --> 00:28:03,429 but He has pity on you. 613 00:28:03,429 --> 00:28:10,248 He wants to help you. 614 00:28:10,248 --> 00:28:11,530 Let me say it again, 615 00:28:11,530 --> 00:28:13,584 when Satan comes to you with temptation 616 00:28:13,584 --> 00:28:15,234 and all manner of assault 617 00:28:15,234 --> 00:28:17,153 and accusations against the Christian, 618 00:28:17,153 --> 00:28:19,804 don't become deceived. 619 00:28:19,804 --> 00:28:21,444 When you're struggling, believer, 620 00:28:21,444 --> 00:28:23,519 don't think that you can't go to Him 621 00:28:23,519 --> 00:28:27,074 in that state to His throne of grace. 622 00:28:27,074 --> 00:28:28,772 Because the time of need 623 00:28:28,772 --> 00:28:34,322 is the time He tells you to come boldly to Him 624 00:28:34,322 --> 00:28:35,534 to find help. 625 00:28:35,534 --> 00:28:38,329 And then look what He calls you next 626 00:28:38,329 --> 00:28:41,086 in His plea for you to open up to Him. 627 00:28:41,086 --> 00:28:47,217 He then calls you, "My love." 628 00:28:47,217 --> 00:28:48,892 Listen to me, believer. 629 00:28:48,892 --> 00:28:51,303 You must get out of this trap 630 00:28:51,303 --> 00:28:54,026 of basing His love for you 631 00:28:54,026 --> 00:28:56,256 on your performance. 632 00:28:56,256 --> 00:28:58,923 It's so easy to fall into. 633 00:28:58,923 --> 00:29:00,284 You know, when you think 634 00:29:00,284 --> 00:29:02,350 you're doing really good. 635 00:29:02,350 --> 00:29:03,837 You get up for prayer early. 636 00:29:03,837 --> 00:29:04,949 You read your Bible. 637 00:29:04,949 --> 00:29:06,710 You share your faith with someone. 638 00:29:06,710 --> 00:29:10,228 You know, you're just giving, sacrificial. 639 00:29:10,228 --> 00:29:12,117 Or, you know whenever you speak 640 00:29:12,117 --> 00:29:14,821 the right words just pour out of your mouth. 641 00:29:14,821 --> 00:29:17,775 And you have no problem 642 00:29:17,775 --> 00:29:22,935 believing Christ's love for you on days like that. 643 00:29:22,935 --> 00:29:26,026 That's just pride. 644 00:29:26,026 --> 00:29:27,834 But then on another day, 645 00:29:27,834 --> 00:29:30,342 you're kind of like the bride here in our text. 646 00:29:30,342 --> 00:29:33,054 You're in a state of spiritual slumber. 647 00:29:33,054 --> 00:29:34,395 And you think, 648 00:29:34,395 --> 00:29:41,488 surely Christ must love me less now. 649 00:29:41,488 --> 00:29:44,844 What is the greatest command in Scripture? 650 00:29:44,844 --> 00:29:46,433 Jesus said: To love God 651 00:29:46,433 --> 00:29:52,907 with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. 652 00:29:52,907 --> 00:29:55,785 Did Jesus do that perfectly? 653 00:29:55,785 --> 00:29:57,366 Of course, He did. 654 00:29:57,366 --> 00:29:59,923 He always did what is pleasing to the Father. 655 00:29:59,923 --> 00:30:02,278 Well, Jesus said as the Father has loved Me, 656 00:30:02,278 --> 00:30:04,973 even so I have loved you. 657 00:30:04,973 --> 00:30:06,707 With that exact same love 658 00:30:06,707 --> 00:30:09,278 and that intensity of that love 659 00:30:09,278 --> 00:30:11,540 God the Father has for God the Son, 660 00:30:11,540 --> 00:30:13,141 and the Son has for the Father, 661 00:30:13,141 --> 00:30:16,972 that is how much Jesus loves you. 662 00:30:16,972 --> 00:30:19,265 I mean, did the love of Jesus 663 00:30:19,265 --> 00:30:20,531 for the heavenly Father - 664 00:30:20,531 --> 00:30:24,413 does it only go thus far and no further? 665 00:30:24,413 --> 00:30:26,625 Is there any limit to the infinite love 666 00:30:26,625 --> 00:30:31,639 between the Father and the Son? 667 00:30:31,639 --> 00:30:34,683 This world was made for God to share 668 00:30:34,683 --> 00:30:37,342 this love with you. 669 00:30:37,342 --> 00:30:42,152 To show how much the Father loves the Son. 670 00:30:42,152 --> 00:30:46,309 And He does that by loving us in the same way. 671 00:30:46,309 --> 00:30:48,289 You see, believer, there may be times 672 00:30:48,289 --> 00:30:52,249 when you're cooled in your love for Him. 673 00:30:52,249 --> 00:30:55,063 But what was His love towards you like in those times? 674 00:30:55,063 --> 00:30:56,559 Listen to me now, believer, 675 00:30:56,559 --> 00:31:00,204 Jesus - He always passionately loves you 676 00:31:00,204 --> 00:31:06,492 with all of His heart, soul, mind, and strength. 677 00:31:06,492 --> 00:31:07,987 With all of His thoughts, 678 00:31:07,987 --> 00:31:14,844 with all of His emotions. 679 00:31:14,844 --> 00:31:18,287 So how can we not fully open up to Him? 680 00:31:18,287 --> 00:31:19,446 And so then, 681 00:31:19,446 --> 00:31:21,640 Christ's appeal for you to open up 682 00:31:21,640 --> 00:31:23,524 fully to Him - it continues. 683 00:31:23,524 --> 00:31:25,940 Look what He calls you next here, believer. 684 00:31:25,940 --> 00:31:29,098 He calls you, "My dove." 685 00:31:29,098 --> 00:31:31,043 A dove is a clean, 686 00:31:31,043 --> 00:31:33,286 a gentle and beautiful bird. 687 00:31:33,286 --> 00:31:36,724 A symbol of innocence and peace. 688 00:31:36,724 --> 00:31:40,214 Notice the tender way, believer, 689 00:31:40,214 --> 00:31:43,296 in which Christ sees you; 690 00:31:43,296 --> 00:31:44,640 how He looks upon you 691 00:31:44,640 --> 00:31:47,244 with the deepest of affections. 692 00:31:47,244 --> 00:31:49,186 And a dove, of course, in Scripture 693 00:31:49,186 --> 00:31:51,922 is a symbol of the Holy Spirit 694 00:31:51,922 --> 00:31:56,948 who resides in the believer's heart. 695 00:31:56,948 --> 00:31:58,745 You know, and He's beginning to awake 696 00:31:58,745 --> 00:32:02,365 the bride here from her state of slumber. 697 00:32:02,365 --> 00:32:04,066 Let not conscience make you linger 698 00:32:04,066 --> 00:32:06,036 nor of fitness fondly dream, 699 00:32:06,036 --> 00:32:08,209 all the fitness He requireth 700 00:32:08,209 --> 00:32:10,291 is to feel your need for Him. 701 00:32:10,291 --> 00:32:11,455 And this He gives you - 702 00:32:11,455 --> 00:32:13,659 this is the Spirit working in you, 703 00:32:13,659 --> 00:32:17,250 when we feel our need for Him. 704 00:32:17,250 --> 00:32:18,868 And then, look, He calls you, 705 00:32:18,868 --> 00:32:21,053 "My undefiled," 706 00:32:21,053 --> 00:32:22,613 Or as the New American Standard 707 00:32:22,613 --> 00:32:28,654 translates it, "My perfect one." 708 00:32:28,654 --> 00:32:32,620 Notice, He's not knocking at the door 709 00:32:32,620 --> 00:32:34,646 in wrath for you. 710 00:32:34,646 --> 00:32:38,339 He calls you now His undefiled. 711 00:32:38,339 --> 00:32:40,761 Because from the moment someone 712 00:32:40,761 --> 00:32:43,497 truly repents and puts their faith in Christ, 713 00:32:43,497 --> 00:32:48,780 God is never angry at the believer again. 714 00:32:48,780 --> 00:32:50,522 Because as we've just sung there 715 00:32:50,522 --> 00:32:52,049 on that cross, the wrath of God 716 00:32:52,049 --> 00:32:55,886 was completely satisfied. 717 00:32:55,886 --> 00:32:57,304 He was punished in our place. 718 00:32:57,304 --> 00:32:59,012 Jesus cried out upon that cross, 719 00:32:59,012 --> 00:33:02,687 "It is finished!" 720 00:33:02,687 --> 00:33:03,843 Do you see that? 721 00:33:03,843 --> 00:33:04,893 It is finished. 722 00:33:04,893 --> 00:33:09,640 Or are you still trying to finish it? 723 00:33:09,640 --> 00:33:13,053 Because seeing that is eternal life. 724 00:33:13,053 --> 00:33:16,165 Seeing what He has done there - 725 00:33:16,165 --> 00:33:18,547 that He has completely and perfectly 726 00:33:18,547 --> 00:33:20,737 satisfied the wrath of God 727 00:33:20,737 --> 00:33:25,402 on behalf of all those who will trust Him. 728 00:33:25,402 --> 00:33:27,787 He paid the penalty for the sins of His bride - 729 00:33:27,787 --> 00:33:32,756 past, present, and future. 730 00:33:32,756 --> 00:33:34,964 You know, when I first went to a church, 731 00:33:34,964 --> 00:33:36,966 I was told there that when you believe, 732 00:33:36,966 --> 00:33:39,262 Christ paid for the sins up to the point 733 00:33:39,262 --> 00:33:42,936 that you become a Christian, 734 00:33:42,936 --> 00:33:46,594 and then you were sort of left then. 735 00:33:46,594 --> 00:33:48,477 That didn't bring me much joy. 736 00:33:48,477 --> 00:33:52,732 Of course, it's false. 737 00:33:52,732 --> 00:33:54,297 But He's taken away our sins 738 00:33:54,297 --> 00:33:56,653 as far as the east is from the west, 739 00:33:56,653 --> 00:33:57,750 the Bible says. 740 00:33:57,750 --> 00:34:03,226 So far has He removed our transgressions from us. 741 00:34:03,226 --> 00:34:04,557 I mean, think about this. 742 00:34:04,557 --> 00:34:06,997 How far is the east from the west? 743 00:34:06,997 --> 00:34:11,061 You just keep going. 744 00:34:11,061 --> 00:34:13,045 He says, "For I will be merciful 745 00:34:13,045 --> 00:34:14,445 to their unrighteousness." 746 00:34:14,445 --> 00:34:16,519 This is what He's doing here at the door. 747 00:34:16,519 --> 00:34:18,414 "...and their sins and their iniquities 748 00:34:18,414 --> 00:34:22,807 will I remember no more." 749 00:34:22,807 --> 00:34:28,479 You see, He brings us under conviction 750 00:34:28,479 --> 00:34:31,617 to chasten us as a father chastens the son 751 00:34:31,617 --> 00:34:34,794 in whom he delights, in whom he loves. 752 00:34:34,794 --> 00:34:39,158 But once you rest in His finished work, 753 00:34:39,158 --> 00:34:47,891 He never comes to you in wrath again. 754 00:34:47,891 --> 00:34:51,285 I mean, God did not go to such an expense 755 00:34:51,285 --> 00:34:52,574 to pay for your sins, 756 00:34:52,574 --> 00:34:56,451 so He could just frown at you all day long. 757 00:34:56,451 --> 00:34:59,374 But everything Christ does is perfect. 758 00:34:59,374 --> 00:35:03,595 You see, when He saves someone, 759 00:35:03,595 --> 00:35:05,854 He perfectly saves them. 760 00:35:05,854 --> 00:35:08,770 When God adopts someone as His child, 761 00:35:08,770 --> 00:35:11,575 He perfectly adopts them. 762 00:35:11,575 --> 00:35:14,734 When God forgives someone, 763 00:35:14,734 --> 00:35:21,225 He perfectly forgives them. 764 00:35:21,225 --> 00:35:23,078 It's not like man often does, 765 00:35:23,078 --> 00:35:24,641 where they say I forgive someone 766 00:35:24,641 --> 00:35:26,413 and they bury the axe, 767 00:35:26,413 --> 00:35:28,546 but they leave the hatchet showing 768 00:35:28,546 --> 00:35:32,600 so they can dig it up at a later date. 769 00:35:32,600 --> 00:35:34,520 "I have blotted out as a thick cloud 770 00:35:34,520 --> 00:35:35,616 your transgressions, 771 00:35:35,616 --> 00:35:37,551 as a thick cloud your sins. 772 00:35:37,551 --> 00:35:43,926 Return unto Me, for I have redeemed you." 773 00:35:43,926 --> 00:35:45,687 Look, believer, despite your feelings 774 00:35:45,687 --> 00:35:47,655 of neglect of Him, 775 00:35:47,655 --> 00:35:49,978 He's not knocking to you in anger here. 776 00:35:49,978 --> 00:35:56,091 He calls you, "My undefiled." 777 00:35:56,091 --> 00:35:57,591 These hands that knock here 778 00:35:57,591 --> 00:36:00,920 have holes in, 779 00:36:00,920 --> 00:36:03,812 pierced for your sin, believer. 780 00:36:03,812 --> 00:36:05,473 Is that not enough to you? 781 00:36:05,473 --> 00:36:07,766 This should really motivate you 782 00:36:07,766 --> 00:36:13,131 to just yield yourself to Him. 783 00:36:13,131 --> 00:36:15,269 There's a dear brother in England we met, 784 00:36:15,269 --> 00:36:18,236 Leslie Smith. 785 00:36:18,236 --> 00:36:23,170 One thing he told me: yield. 786 00:36:23,170 --> 00:36:25,620 Because Satan comes with all accusations 787 00:36:25,620 --> 00:36:27,517 and thoughts, different things, 788 00:36:27,517 --> 00:36:31,301 and people start toying with it, 789 00:36:31,301 --> 00:36:33,287 but the moment you yield to Christ, 790 00:36:33,287 --> 00:36:36,257 it's over. 791 00:36:36,257 --> 00:36:37,445 And it's so true. 792 00:36:37,445 --> 00:36:46,675 Take captive every thought. 793 00:36:46,675 --> 00:36:48,759 And then in the third part 794 00:36:48,759 --> 00:36:50,376 of His plea to the believer 795 00:36:50,376 --> 00:36:51,373 to open up the door, 796 00:36:51,373 --> 00:36:54,679 Christ says, "For My head is filled with dew, 797 00:36:54,679 --> 00:36:58,647 and My locks with the drops of the night." 798 00:36:58,647 --> 00:37:01,895 He's left in the cold outside here. 799 00:37:01,895 --> 00:37:04,873 And a night and dew in Scripture 800 00:37:04,873 --> 00:37:08,469 is sometimes symbolic of trial and affliction. 801 00:37:08,469 --> 00:37:10,985 In Daniel 4, when Nebuchadnezzar 802 00:37:10,985 --> 00:37:13,174 was at his lowest state - 803 00:37:13,174 --> 00:37:17,424 he was said to be wet with the dew of heaven. 804 00:37:17,424 --> 00:37:22,127 And brethren, Christ feels the hurt. 805 00:37:22,127 --> 00:37:24,167 You know, since I've been in the U.S., 806 00:37:24,167 --> 00:37:27,067 I've been able to contact my wife on Skype 807 00:37:27,067 --> 00:37:30,096 almost every day. 808 00:37:30,096 --> 00:37:33,308 That was, except last Monday, 809 00:37:33,308 --> 00:37:34,687 because we were so busy, 810 00:37:34,687 --> 00:37:36,646 we were doing various outreaches, 811 00:37:36,646 --> 00:37:38,503 and with all the time differences 812 00:37:38,503 --> 00:37:42,473 I was unable to speak to her that day. 813 00:37:42,473 --> 00:37:45,777 Each time I turned on my laptop 814 00:37:45,777 --> 00:37:47,329 hoping to see her, 815 00:37:47,329 --> 00:37:49,898 it was a time when either she wasn't there 816 00:37:49,898 --> 00:37:52,735 or she was in bed. 817 00:37:52,735 --> 00:37:54,293 On the morning before we left 818 00:37:54,293 --> 00:37:56,667 the house to go to the outreach, 819 00:37:56,667 --> 00:37:57,991 I put on my computer, 820 00:37:57,991 --> 00:37:59,974 and I was so excited to speak with her, 821 00:37:59,974 --> 00:38:02,626 but she happened to be out. 822 00:38:02,626 --> 00:38:03,940 Then, when we came back 823 00:38:03,940 --> 00:38:05,792 from the outreach, 824 00:38:05,792 --> 00:38:08,265 I was getting all excited again, 825 00:38:08,265 --> 00:38:11,851 longing to speak to my wife. 826 00:38:11,851 --> 00:38:14,240 I'm getting flutters in my heart 827 00:38:14,240 --> 00:38:17,549 as I switch the computer on. 828 00:38:17,549 --> 00:38:20,534 But she'd gone to bed. 829 00:38:20,534 --> 00:38:22,838 It was kind of late there. 830 00:38:22,838 --> 00:38:25,257 But it just really brought home to me 831 00:38:25,257 --> 00:38:27,802 just how much more 832 00:38:27,802 --> 00:38:30,336 God longs to hear from us 833 00:38:30,336 --> 00:38:32,374 and speak with His bride. 834 00:38:32,374 --> 00:38:34,248 And how He feels it 835 00:38:34,248 --> 00:38:39,119 when we don't come to be alone with Him. 836 00:38:39,119 --> 00:38:42,276 While we're here, if you'll just look 837 00:38:42,276 --> 00:38:46,152 at Song of Solomon 2:14. 838 00:38:46,152 --> 00:38:47,526 At the end of v. 13, 839 00:38:47,526 --> 00:38:49,719 Christ says, "Arise, My love, 840 00:38:49,719 --> 00:38:52,713 My fair one and come away." 841 00:38:52,713 --> 00:38:54,681 And then He says there in v. 14, 842 00:38:54,681 --> 00:38:56,195 "Oh, My dove, 843 00:38:56,195 --> 00:38:59,367 that art in the clefts of the rock, 844 00:38:59,367 --> 00:39:01,335 in the secret places in the stairs." 845 00:39:01,335 --> 00:39:03,414 These are the little cracks 846 00:39:03,414 --> 00:39:04,810 in the rock, if you like, 847 00:39:04,810 --> 00:39:08,611 where doves would hide for protection. 848 00:39:08,611 --> 00:39:11,685 The analogy here is, as we sang there, 849 00:39:11,685 --> 00:39:13,748 Jesus Christ being our hiding place. 850 00:39:13,748 --> 00:39:15,198 Coming to hide in Him. 851 00:39:15,198 --> 00:39:17,452 But notice here what He calls you. 852 00:39:17,452 --> 00:39:19,892 "Let me see thy countenance." 853 00:39:19,892 --> 00:39:23,230 Let me see your face. 854 00:39:23,230 --> 00:39:24,825 He wants to see your face. 855 00:39:24,825 --> 00:39:28,395 "Let me hear thy voice, 856 00:39:28,395 --> 00:39:31,318 for sweet is thy voice 857 00:39:31,318 --> 00:39:33,054 and thy countenance (your face) 858 00:39:33,054 --> 00:39:34,732 is beautiful." 859 00:39:34,732 --> 00:39:38,276 Because Christ doesn't just put away your sin, 860 00:39:38,276 --> 00:39:39,760 but He gives you the perfect, 861 00:39:39,760 --> 00:39:44,322 the beauty, the righteousness of Jesus Christ. 862 00:39:44,322 --> 00:39:47,168 If ever I feel cold and dry in prayer, 863 00:39:47,168 --> 00:39:50,230 I come back to these verses. 864 00:39:50,230 --> 00:39:51,651 That Christ, He says, 865 00:39:51,651 --> 00:39:53,744 let Me hear your voice. 866 00:39:53,744 --> 00:39:56,866 Let Me see your face. 867 00:39:56,866 --> 00:39:59,514 You know, Keith Green sang: 868 00:39:59,514 --> 00:40:01,482 "Oh, Lord, You're beautiful. 869 00:40:01,482 --> 00:40:04,171 Your face is all I seek. 870 00:40:04,171 --> 00:40:06,733 And when Your eyes are on this child, 871 00:40:06,733 --> 00:40:09,697 Your grace abounds to me." 872 00:40:09,697 --> 00:40:11,287 Well, brethren, this is a song. 873 00:40:11,287 --> 00:40:12,434 The Song of Solomon. 874 00:40:12,434 --> 00:40:17,741 And God is singing the same thing to us there. 875 00:40:17,741 --> 00:40:19,132 Believe it. 876 00:40:19,132 --> 00:40:20,390 He sees you as beautiful. 877 00:40:20,390 --> 00:40:25,973 Your face is all He seeks. 878 00:40:25,973 --> 00:40:30,783 We go back to chapter 5. 879 00:40:30,783 --> 00:40:32,516 But believer, when we neglect 880 00:40:32,516 --> 00:40:35,108 secret communion with God - 881 00:40:35,108 --> 00:40:37,566 Jesus said not if, but when 882 00:40:37,566 --> 00:40:40,310 you pray in secret. 883 00:40:40,310 --> 00:40:42,540 Or when we leave our first love 884 00:40:42,540 --> 00:40:44,584 to be busy in some cold, 885 00:40:44,584 --> 00:40:46,180 compromised way, 886 00:40:46,180 --> 00:40:49,452 Christ feels this. 887 00:40:49,452 --> 00:40:53,147 The Bible speaks of His Spirit being grieved. 888 00:40:53,147 --> 00:40:56,219 Grief is an emotional hurt. 889 00:40:56,219 --> 00:40:59,573 You see, God is not some feelingless robot. 890 00:40:59,573 --> 00:41:04,866 The Bible says He is longsuffering towards us. 891 00:41:04,871 --> 00:41:07,549 Now, that implies that He feels 892 00:41:07,549 --> 00:41:11,715 the suffering towards our cold behavior. 893 00:41:11,715 --> 00:41:13,380 This is the same God, brethren, 894 00:41:13,380 --> 00:41:17,577 Who wept over Jerusalem. 895 00:41:17,577 --> 00:41:21,053 Now, look in v. 3 here at the bride's 896 00:41:21,053 --> 00:41:24,855 half-hearted response. 897 00:41:24,855 --> 00:41:27,037 After she hears her beloved outside 898 00:41:27,037 --> 00:41:29,613 knocking and pleading with her 899 00:41:29,613 --> 00:41:30,961 in great love for her 900 00:41:30,961 --> 00:41:32,678 to open up the door, 901 00:41:32,678 --> 00:41:35,109 she just makes excuses. 902 00:41:35,109 --> 00:41:38,813 She says, v. 3, "I have put off my coat. 903 00:41:38,813 --> 00:41:41,904 How shall I put it on?" 904 00:41:41,904 --> 00:41:44,916 This refers to the full middle-Eastern 905 00:41:44,916 --> 00:41:46,670 robe or garment. 906 00:41:46,670 --> 00:41:49,292 Basically, she's gone to bed. 907 00:41:49,292 --> 00:41:50,890 "I have washed my feet. 908 00:41:50,890 --> 00:41:54,900 How shall I defile (or dirty) them again?" 909 00:41:54,900 --> 00:41:56,963 You know, if I get up to answer the door, 910 00:41:56,963 --> 00:41:59,606 I'm going to have to wash my feet again. 911 00:41:59,606 --> 00:42:02,511 I'm cozy in bed now. 912 00:42:02,511 --> 00:42:05,104 But brethren, how many times 913 00:42:05,104 --> 00:42:09,127 have we been cold to Christ - 914 00:42:09,127 --> 00:42:10,853 locked Him out, so to speak, 915 00:42:10,853 --> 00:42:13,779 because you want to do your own thing 916 00:42:13,779 --> 00:42:16,568 or hold on to some idol? 917 00:42:16,568 --> 00:42:18,520 But even when you hear Him knock 918 00:42:18,520 --> 00:42:21,056 and call out to you, 919 00:42:21,056 --> 00:42:23,350 when you're reminded of Who He is, 920 00:42:23,350 --> 00:42:26,246 and you're reminded of His great love to you, 921 00:42:26,246 --> 00:42:28,930 and you're reminded of what He's done for you, 922 00:42:28,930 --> 00:42:30,655 and how He is grieved; 923 00:42:30,655 --> 00:42:32,382 how often do you, like the bride, 924 00:42:32,382 --> 00:42:35,866 still make excuses 925 00:42:35,866 --> 00:42:38,652 and start reasoning 926 00:42:38,652 --> 00:42:40,704 to continue in a half-hearted state 927 00:42:40,704 --> 00:42:47,190 of compromise? 928 00:42:47,190 --> 00:42:48,490 You know, one thing I heard 929 00:42:48,490 --> 00:42:50,512 that really helped me 930 00:42:50,512 --> 00:43:00,279 is we know right and wrong in His Word, 931 00:43:00,279 --> 00:43:01,727 but what tends to happen is 932 00:43:01,727 --> 00:43:03,607 the believer at times will be deceived 933 00:43:03,607 --> 00:43:06,200 and start reasoning, 934 00:43:06,200 --> 00:43:08,311 when it's a simple yes or no. 935 00:43:08,311 --> 00:43:11,828 Will you obey Christ or won't you obey? 936 00:43:11,828 --> 00:43:14,277 And once you boil it down to that, 937 00:43:14,277 --> 00:43:17,584 and you stop reasoning, 938 00:43:17,584 --> 00:43:20,246 and just yield to Christ, 939 00:43:20,246 --> 00:43:25,013 it's over there. 940 00:43:25,013 --> 00:43:29,000 How often have you heard a sermon like this 941 00:43:29,000 --> 00:43:30,766 speaking of God's love for you 942 00:43:30,766 --> 00:43:33,282 in spite of your failings? 943 00:43:33,289 --> 00:43:35,999 And you're convicted, and you're thinking, 944 00:43:35,999 --> 00:43:38,007 yeah, I'm going to commune with Him now, 945 00:43:38,007 --> 00:43:39,922 put Him first in all of my affections. 946 00:43:39,922 --> 00:43:41,652 I'm going to rise up early 947 00:43:41,652 --> 00:43:44,742 and meet Him for secret communion and prayer, 948 00:43:44,742 --> 00:43:48,064 but then it gets to Monday or Tuesday, 949 00:43:48,064 --> 00:43:51,047 and you're making excuses 950 00:43:51,047 --> 00:43:54,015 in order to keep Christ out 951 00:43:54,015 --> 00:43:58,774 and carry on in your compromised way. 952 00:43:58,774 --> 00:44:00,549 "I have put off my coat. 953 00:44:00,549 --> 00:44:02,880 How shall I put it on? 954 00:44:02,880 --> 00:44:04,390 I have washed my feet. 955 00:44:04,390 --> 00:44:08,328 How shall I defile (or dirty) them?" 956 00:44:08,328 --> 00:44:10,275 Notice also here, 957 00:44:10,275 --> 00:44:12,729 that in the bride's thinking here, 958 00:44:12,729 --> 00:44:16,372 in making excuses to carry on in her state 959 00:44:16,372 --> 00:44:18,803 of compromise - in her reasoning, 960 00:44:18,803 --> 00:44:20,992 she has come to the conclusion 961 00:44:20,992 --> 00:44:23,305 that to fully open up to Christ - 962 00:44:23,305 --> 00:44:25,246 to submit to Him fully - 963 00:44:25,246 --> 00:44:27,113 would somehow be a great trouble 964 00:44:27,113 --> 00:44:29,648 or burden to her. 965 00:44:29,648 --> 00:44:31,286 She's been deceived at this point 966 00:44:31,286 --> 00:44:33,333 into thinking she's better off 967 00:44:33,333 --> 00:44:35,163 with whatever carnal security 968 00:44:35,163 --> 00:44:37,076 she's getting from whatever is between 969 00:44:37,076 --> 00:44:42,045 her and Christ. 970 00:44:42,045 --> 00:44:43,166 Listen to me. 971 00:44:43,166 --> 00:44:45,843 Anytime we do not put Christ 972 00:44:45,843 --> 00:44:47,594 at the chiefest of our affections, 973 00:44:47,594 --> 00:44:52,459 it is because we have been deceived. 974 00:44:52,459 --> 00:44:56,796 How often does one think of sin 975 00:44:56,796 --> 00:45:01,012 or toying with sin as if it's a virtue? 976 00:45:01,012 --> 00:45:06,017 No one would ever do it otherwise. 977 00:45:06,017 --> 00:45:07,395 No one sins unless they feel 978 00:45:07,395 --> 00:45:11,852 it's going to benefit them in some way. 979 00:45:11,852 --> 00:45:17,006 And v. 4, and the bride continues to say, 980 00:45:17,006 --> 00:45:18,649 "My beloved put His hand 981 00:45:18,649 --> 00:45:20,182 by the hole of the door, 982 00:45:20,182 --> 00:45:24,485 and my bowels were moved for Him." 983 00:45:24,485 --> 00:45:28,178 Jesus Christ - He is the everlasting door. 984 00:45:28,178 --> 00:45:29,350 And the Bible says, 985 00:45:29,350 --> 00:45:31,587 while were yet sinners, 986 00:45:31,587 --> 00:45:35,441 He made His way into our hearts. 987 00:45:35,441 --> 00:45:37,880 You see, this hole in the door here in this text, 988 00:45:37,880 --> 00:45:42,513 you would have basically a large door 989 00:45:42,513 --> 00:45:44,397 with a wooden bar across it 990 00:45:44,397 --> 00:45:46,483 and various pins and locks. 991 00:45:46,483 --> 00:45:49,991 And there's a hole you can put your hand into 992 00:45:49,991 --> 00:45:52,158 to remove some of those pins 993 00:45:52,158 --> 00:45:54,525 and some of those locks. 994 00:45:54,525 --> 00:45:56,571 Although, there's more to it than that. 995 00:45:56,571 --> 00:46:00,730 You have to open it on the inside also. 996 00:46:00,730 --> 00:46:01,945 As we can see there, 997 00:46:01,945 --> 00:46:03,501 the bride still needs to open up. 998 00:46:03,501 --> 00:46:06,231 But notice here, that when the bride 999 00:46:06,231 --> 00:46:07,971 is locking Christ out here, 1000 00:46:07,971 --> 00:46:09,613 and even when He knocks 1001 00:46:09,613 --> 00:46:12,779 and calls her in love to her to open up to Him, 1002 00:46:12,779 --> 00:46:17,626 and she makes excuses, 1003 00:46:17,626 --> 00:46:22,520 He doesn't just leave her, 1004 00:46:22,520 --> 00:46:26,419 but He finds this little gap 1005 00:46:26,419 --> 00:46:29,064 and undoes some of those pins. 1006 00:46:29,064 --> 00:46:31,419 Basically, He makes it easier here 1007 00:46:31,419 --> 00:46:34,946 for the bride to open up fully to Him. 1008 00:46:34,946 --> 00:46:37,655 Christ begins here to effectually move 1009 00:46:37,655 --> 00:46:40,026 on the bride's heart. 1010 00:46:40,026 --> 00:46:41,714 And so she's going to rise now 1011 00:46:41,714 --> 00:46:45,248 to open up the door. 1012 00:46:45,248 --> 00:46:47,943 And Jesus often does this. 1013 00:46:47,943 --> 00:46:49,995 When Peter denied Christ, 1014 00:46:49,995 --> 00:46:53,906 the only thing that made Peter turn again to Him, 1015 00:46:53,906 --> 00:46:56,300 was Christ praying for Peter 1016 00:46:56,300 --> 00:47:00,573 that his faith fail not. 1017 00:47:00,573 --> 00:47:03,525 As I read Octavius Winslow said, 1018 00:47:03,525 --> 00:47:07,982 it takes as big a miracle 1019 00:47:07,982 --> 00:47:11,995 for a believer when we fall in any way 1020 00:47:11,995 --> 00:47:14,118 to come back to Christ - to turn - 1021 00:47:14,118 --> 00:47:19,100 than for the new birth in the first place. 1022 00:47:19,100 --> 00:47:21,142 When Peter was at his lowest ebb 1023 00:47:21,142 --> 00:47:22,222 in running from God, 1024 00:47:22,222 --> 00:47:23,437 Jesus went after Peter 1025 00:47:23,437 --> 00:47:27,075 and won him by His love. 1026 00:47:27,075 --> 00:47:28,929 And believer, when you fail, 1027 00:47:28,929 --> 00:47:31,883 the only reason you return to Him 1028 00:47:31,883 --> 00:47:34,766 is because He effectually draws you 1029 00:47:34,766 --> 00:47:36,780 by His love. 1030 00:47:36,780 --> 00:47:39,220 If He left you to yourself, 1031 00:47:39,220 --> 00:47:43,592 then you would be long gone. 1032 00:47:43,592 --> 00:47:46,018 His love is a love that will not let you go. 1033 00:47:46,018 --> 00:47:48,935 It says in chapter 8: "stronger than death." 1034 00:47:48,935 --> 00:47:50,903 Death is pretty strong. 1035 00:47:50,903 --> 00:47:53,510 It's quite final. 1036 00:47:53,510 --> 00:47:56,642 So rest your weary soul in Him. 1037 00:47:56,642 --> 00:47:59,727 In v. 5, after Christ effectually moves 1038 00:47:59,727 --> 00:48:01,549 the heart of the bride here, 1039 00:48:01,549 --> 00:48:05,357 she says, "I rose to open to my beloved, 1040 00:48:05,357 --> 00:48:07,518 and my hands dropped with myrrh, 1041 00:48:07,518 --> 00:48:09,811 and my fingers with sweet smelling myrrh 1042 00:48:09,811 --> 00:48:13,600 upon the handles of the lock." 1043 00:48:13,600 --> 00:48:15,822 I want you to notice here first of all 1044 00:48:15,822 --> 00:48:21,004 that repentance always results in action. 1045 00:48:21,004 --> 00:48:25,141 Repentance involves all of your inner being, 1046 00:48:25,141 --> 00:48:27,503 being moved with compassion, 1047 00:48:27,503 --> 00:48:29,064 with longing for Christ, 1048 00:48:29,064 --> 00:48:30,559 and so it will be evidenced 1049 00:48:30,559 --> 00:48:34,576 by a turning from the present state one is 1050 00:48:34,576 --> 00:48:39,984 and to the living God. 1051 00:48:39,984 --> 00:48:42,259 There is no such thing as a true repentance 1052 00:48:42,259 --> 00:48:44,720 that does not involve action. 1053 00:48:44,720 --> 00:48:46,230 And notice in v. 5, 1054 00:48:46,230 --> 00:48:47,967 when the bride rises up to open 1055 00:48:47,967 --> 00:48:49,605 to her beloved, she says, 1056 00:48:49,605 --> 00:48:51,938 "My hands dropped with myrrh, 1057 00:48:51,938 --> 00:48:54,230 and my fingers with sweet smelling myrrh, 1058 00:48:54,230 --> 00:48:58,058 upon the handles of the lock." 1059 00:48:58,058 --> 00:48:59,958 Although as we see in the next verse 1060 00:48:59,958 --> 00:49:02,242 that by this time when she finally responds, 1061 00:49:02,242 --> 00:49:04,915 Christ has further withdrawn His presence 1062 00:49:04,915 --> 00:49:06,319 from her, but notice here - 1063 00:49:06,319 --> 00:49:07,633 don't miss this. 1064 00:49:07,633 --> 00:49:10,026 Before He did, He put His hand 1065 00:49:10,026 --> 00:49:12,746 through the hole in the door to her heart 1066 00:49:12,746 --> 00:49:14,960 in the previous verse. 1067 00:49:14,960 --> 00:49:18,878 He left her here with the fragrance of Himself, 1068 00:49:18,878 --> 00:49:24,792 so that she would long for Him. 1069 00:49:24,792 --> 00:49:26,762 And how true this is, believer, 1070 00:49:26,762 --> 00:49:29,236 that even when it times Christ withdraws 1071 00:49:29,236 --> 00:49:32,531 His presence from you, 1072 00:49:32,531 --> 00:49:34,165 because of your disobedience 1073 00:49:34,165 --> 00:49:35,628 and stubborn will to carry on 1074 00:49:35,628 --> 00:49:36,825 in a compromised state, 1075 00:49:36,825 --> 00:49:39,400 He graciosly leaves you, believer, 1076 00:49:39,400 --> 00:49:44,226 with a longing - with a yearning for Himself. 1077 00:49:44,226 --> 00:49:48,092 And in v. 6, the bride finally rises and says, 1078 00:49:48,092 --> 00:49:51,091 "I opened to my beloved, 1079 00:49:51,091 --> 00:49:53,126 but my beloved had withdrawn Himself 1080 00:49:53,126 --> 00:49:54,223 and was gone. 1081 00:49:54,223 --> 00:49:57,680 My soul failed when He spake. 1082 00:49:57,680 --> 00:50:00,265 I sought Him, but I could not find Him. 1083 00:50:00,265 --> 00:50:05,417 I called Him, but He gave me no answer." 1084 00:50:05,417 --> 00:50:08,317 For the bride's own good here, 1085 00:50:08,317 --> 00:50:13,153 Christ has withdrawn the sense of His presence. 1086 00:50:13,153 --> 00:50:14,734 Of course, He's still with her, 1087 00:50:14,734 --> 00:50:16,425 watching over her. 1088 00:50:16,425 --> 00:50:19,233 But He's done this to teach her a lesson 1089 00:50:19,233 --> 00:50:21,476 that she cannot be half-hearted 1090 00:50:21,476 --> 00:50:23,665 towards Him. 1091 00:50:23,665 --> 00:50:27,114 And after finding her in this prolonged state 1092 00:50:27,114 --> 00:50:28,518 of compromise, 1093 00:50:28,518 --> 00:50:30,207 when despite His pleas of love 1094 00:50:30,207 --> 00:50:31,357 for the bride, 1095 00:50:31,357 --> 00:50:34,481 she was continually cold to Him, 1096 00:50:34,481 --> 00:50:36,725 and so He left her with the fragrance 1097 00:50:36,725 --> 00:50:40,939 of Himself so that she would yearn for Him 1098 00:50:40,939 --> 00:50:42,809 and cause her to seek Him. 1099 00:50:42,809 --> 00:50:44,692 And so, when she finally rises 1100 00:50:44,692 --> 00:50:47,578 from her state of spiritual slumber 1101 00:50:47,578 --> 00:50:49,339 and opens the door, 1102 00:50:49,339 --> 00:50:52,131 she finds that her beloved has withdrawn Himself, 1103 00:50:52,131 --> 00:50:55,685 because listen to me. 1104 00:50:55,685 --> 00:50:58,124 Christ does not want us to continue 1105 00:50:58,124 --> 00:51:01,848 in this half-hearted state of devotion, 1106 00:51:01,848 --> 00:51:05,792 nor does He want our three-quarter devotion. 1107 00:51:05,792 --> 00:51:08,315 But He wants us to desperately seek Him 1108 00:51:08,315 --> 00:51:11,120 with all our heart. 1109 00:51:11,120 --> 00:51:14,293 And so that when you find Him, 1110 00:51:14,293 --> 00:51:16,488 He doesn't want us to have the attitude 1111 00:51:16,488 --> 00:51:19,036 of slip back into the previous attitude 1112 00:51:19,036 --> 00:51:23,108 that we can just take Him or leave Him; 1113 00:51:23,108 --> 00:51:25,304 pick Him up and drop Him 1114 00:51:25,304 --> 00:51:26,444 whenever we like. 1115 00:51:26,444 --> 00:51:28,104 But as you go through this book, 1116 00:51:28,104 --> 00:51:29,763 the Song of Solomon, 1117 00:51:29,763 --> 00:51:32,170 you see this Christian life 1118 00:51:32,170 --> 00:51:34,033 where the bride comes to maturity, 1119 00:51:34,033 --> 00:51:35,965 and He teaches the bride 1120 00:51:35,965 --> 00:51:38,335 by chastening her in this way, 1121 00:51:38,335 --> 00:51:40,263 to cling to Him; 1122 00:51:40,263 --> 00:51:43,372 to lean upon Him. 1123 00:51:43,372 --> 00:51:45,677 Again, growing in Christian maturity 1124 00:51:45,677 --> 00:51:48,437 is growing in dependence upon Him; 1125 00:51:48,437 --> 00:51:52,623 clinging more to Christ. 1126 00:51:52,623 --> 00:51:54,144 And notice here, she sought Him 1127 00:51:54,144 --> 00:51:55,831 by calling Him in prayer, 1128 00:51:55,831 --> 00:52:00,957 but He gave no answer. 1129 00:52:00,957 --> 00:52:04,139 Let me ask you a question, believer. 1130 00:52:04,139 --> 00:52:08,376 Have you ever woken up early in the morning, 1131 00:52:08,376 --> 00:52:12,635 and you feel like you must get up to pray? 1132 00:52:12,635 --> 00:52:14,065 And you know it's God tugging 1133 00:52:14,065 --> 00:52:16,351 on your heart to spend time with Him. 1134 00:52:16,351 --> 00:52:21,039 Or maybe it's late at night. 1135 00:52:21,039 --> 00:52:23,510 But you just roll over. 1136 00:52:23,510 --> 00:52:25,419 You stay in bed. 1137 00:52:25,419 --> 00:52:27,839 Because you're reasoning within yourself. 1138 00:52:27,839 --> 00:52:31,175 Well, I need to get more sleep 1139 00:52:31,175 --> 00:52:33,615 because if I get extra sleep, 1140 00:52:33,615 --> 00:52:35,391 then I'll have more strength 1141 00:52:35,391 --> 00:52:39,048 to live this coming day in my own strength. 1142 00:52:39,048 --> 00:52:41,956 That's what it is, isn't it? 1143 00:52:41,956 --> 00:52:44,560 The Lord woke me up at 4 a.m. this morning 1144 00:52:44,560 --> 00:52:46,158 and preaching this, I thought, 1145 00:52:46,158 --> 00:52:54,417 I better get up. 1146 00:52:54,417 --> 00:52:56,059 But what happens? 1147 00:52:56,059 --> 00:53:01,296 After putting Him off like the bride in our text? 1148 00:53:01,296 --> 00:53:02,898 You eventually wake up 1149 00:53:02,898 --> 00:53:05,357 and you still pick your Bible up 1150 00:53:05,357 --> 00:53:07,411 and pray as duty. 1151 00:53:07,411 --> 00:53:08,980 You try to make a deal with God 1152 00:53:08,980 --> 00:53:10,459 saying well, if I do my bit, 1153 00:53:10,459 --> 00:53:13,104 then You do Yours today. 1154 00:53:13,104 --> 00:53:15,999 But then you find that God has withdrawn Himself. 1155 00:53:15,999 --> 00:53:17,515 And so for the rest of the day, 1156 00:53:17,515 --> 00:53:19,756 you can't find Him. 1157 00:53:19,756 --> 00:53:20,831 As John Bunyan said, 1158 00:53:20,831 --> 00:53:22,746 "he who runs from God in the morning 1159 00:53:22,746 --> 00:53:27,701 will scarcely find Him the rest of the day." 1160 00:53:27,701 --> 00:53:30,889 Or, have you ever felt 1161 00:53:30,889 --> 00:53:33,522 like Christ is bringing conviction 1162 00:53:33,522 --> 00:53:35,256 over you for something, 1163 00:53:35,256 --> 00:53:37,335 but despite His many pleas to you, 1164 00:53:37,335 --> 00:53:39,149 you make excuse after excuse 1165 00:53:39,149 --> 00:53:41,284 to hold on to it? 1166 00:53:41,284 --> 00:53:44,780 And when you finally come to your senses, 1167 00:53:44,780 --> 00:53:46,376 and you let go of what is between 1168 00:53:46,376 --> 00:53:48,086 you and Christ, 1169 00:53:48,086 --> 00:53:51,312 you find He has withdrawn Himself. 1170 00:53:51,312 --> 00:53:55,207 And you can't find Him. 1171 00:53:55,207 --> 00:53:57,886 You see, the lost, carnal church member 1172 00:53:57,886 --> 00:54:01,232 experiences something like this 1173 00:54:01,232 --> 00:54:03,088 when after living like a spiritual, 1174 00:54:03,088 --> 00:54:04,376 lukewarm sluggard, 1175 00:54:04,376 --> 00:54:06,804 they reject Christ's mercy and conviction 1176 00:54:06,804 --> 00:54:08,885 time after time. 1177 00:54:08,885 --> 00:54:11,279 And when they finally open the door, 1178 00:54:11,279 --> 00:54:12,336 they find He's gone. 1179 00:54:12,336 --> 00:54:14,471 And so, the lost, carnal church member, 1180 00:54:14,471 --> 00:54:16,269 they think well, if that's the case, 1181 00:54:16,269 --> 00:54:18,611 I may as well go back to bed again. 1182 00:54:18,611 --> 00:54:19,754 I may as well carry on 1183 00:54:19,754 --> 00:54:24,358 in my lukewarm slumber. 1184 00:54:24,358 --> 00:54:25,846 But look here, what happens 1185 00:54:25,846 --> 00:54:27,399 to the true believer 1186 00:54:27,399 --> 00:54:29,477 when Christ does this. 1187 00:54:29,477 --> 00:54:31,418 The true believer, like the bride here, 1188 00:54:31,418 --> 00:54:33,083 Christ brings us to our senses, 1189 00:54:33,083 --> 00:54:35,477 so that he or she will desperately 1190 00:54:35,477 --> 00:54:38,293 seek Him and try to find Him, 1191 00:54:38,293 --> 00:54:42,749 and will not stop until we do. 1192 00:54:42,749 --> 00:54:43,939 Because the beloved 1193 00:54:43,939 --> 00:54:45,639 has the words of eternal life - 1194 00:54:45,639 --> 00:54:48,588 to whom else is she going to go? 1195 00:54:48,588 --> 00:54:51,489 And then in v. 7, 1196 00:54:51,489 --> 00:54:53,208 the bride in her search for Christ, 1197 00:54:53,208 --> 00:54:54,522 she runs about the streets. 1198 00:54:54,522 --> 00:54:57,572 She's wounded by these false teachers. 1199 00:54:57,572 --> 00:54:59,617 "The watchmen that went about the city, 1200 00:54:59,617 --> 00:55:01,030 the smote me. 1201 00:55:01,030 --> 00:55:02,235 They wounded me. 1202 00:55:02,235 --> 00:55:03,486 The keepers of the walls 1203 00:55:03,486 --> 00:55:06,766 took away my veil from me." 1204 00:55:06,766 --> 00:55:09,463 You have wolves in sheep's clothing here 1205 00:55:09,463 --> 00:55:14,970 who when they find the true bride of Christ 1206 00:55:14,970 --> 00:55:16,904 in desperation and despair, 1207 00:55:16,904 --> 00:55:20,179 they only smite her and wound her more. 1208 00:55:20,179 --> 00:55:22,458 They rudely rip off her veil 1209 00:55:22,458 --> 00:55:23,868 or a cloak or a shoal - 1210 00:55:23,868 --> 00:55:25,831 it's not quite clear what it is. 1211 00:55:25,831 --> 00:55:31,390 But basically, they're showing no respect for her. 1212 00:55:31,390 --> 00:55:33,261 And listen to me, 1213 00:55:33,261 --> 00:55:35,054 you need to make sure 1214 00:55:35,054 --> 00:55:37,815 you're in a Biblical fellowship 1215 00:55:37,815 --> 00:55:39,924 with true believers. 1216 00:55:39,924 --> 00:55:42,899 This is so important. 1217 00:55:42,899 --> 00:55:50,459 If you need to, move. 1218 00:55:50,459 --> 00:55:51,972 Sometimes, I speak to people 1219 00:55:51,972 --> 00:55:53,732 all the time who are looking 1220 00:55:53,732 --> 00:55:56,007 for a true church; a true fellowship 1221 00:55:56,007 --> 00:55:59,639 who can find nothing where they are. 1222 00:55:59,639 --> 00:56:00,820 But what I've noticed is 1223 00:56:00,820 --> 00:56:02,316 when someone's a true believer, 1224 00:56:02,316 --> 00:56:08,654 they'll crawl over broken glass to find it. 1225 00:56:08,654 --> 00:56:10,078 But in some cases, 1226 00:56:10,078 --> 00:56:11,970 people can't find a true fellowship 1227 00:56:11,970 --> 00:56:14,554 because they don't love the brethren. 1228 00:56:14,554 --> 00:56:18,519 No church is perfect enough for them. 1229 00:56:18,519 --> 00:56:20,759 We know that we have passed 1230 00:56:20,759 --> 00:56:21,881 from death to life 1231 00:56:21,881 --> 00:56:24,805 because we love the brethren. 1232 00:56:24,805 --> 00:56:26,863 This is one of the chiefest evidences 1233 00:56:26,863 --> 00:56:29,457 that you are a Christian. 1234 00:56:29,457 --> 00:56:31,007 I was told that, I think, 1235 00:56:31,007 --> 00:56:32,948 it was Frances Havergal who said 1236 00:56:32,948 --> 00:56:37,310 if you miss one meeting 1237 00:56:37,310 --> 00:56:40,822 which you otherwise have no real excuse 1238 00:56:40,822 --> 00:56:42,301 not to attend, 1239 00:56:42,301 --> 00:56:50,690 then there's a red flag there. 1240 00:56:50,690 --> 00:56:52,774 You must find, like the bride did, 1241 00:56:52,774 --> 00:56:54,990 earlier on in this book, 1242 00:56:54,990 --> 00:56:58,478 where Christ feeds His flock. 1243 00:56:58,478 --> 00:57:05,681 It's no good having an Internet pastor. 1244 00:57:05,681 --> 00:57:07,090 And then in v. 8, 1245 00:57:07,090 --> 00:57:09,899 she says, "I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, 1246 00:57:09,899 --> 00:57:11,758 if ye find my beloved, 1247 00:57:11,758 --> 00:57:16,690 that you tell Him that I am sick of love." 1248 00:57:16,690 --> 00:57:19,704 The idea here is that she is lovesick. 1249 00:57:19,704 --> 00:57:24,652 Just like if a husband is called to go to war, 1250 00:57:24,652 --> 00:57:26,622 and his bride is left at home 1251 00:57:26,622 --> 00:57:28,624 yearning for him. 1252 00:57:28,624 --> 00:57:29,852 Notice here, the bride, 1253 00:57:29,852 --> 00:57:34,451 she desperately wants Him now by her side. 1254 00:57:34,451 --> 00:57:39,884 And brethren, let me finish with this this morning. 1255 00:57:39,884 --> 00:57:42,373 Maybe this finds you 1256 00:57:42,373 --> 00:57:44,568 in a state of compromise 1257 00:57:44,568 --> 00:57:47,627 like the bride in v. 2 and v. 3. 1258 00:57:47,627 --> 00:57:49,313 Locking Christ out. 1259 00:57:49,313 --> 00:57:52,470 Making excuses not to fully open up to Him. 1260 00:57:52,470 --> 00:57:56,074 And He even tugs on your heart. 1261 00:57:56,074 --> 00:57:59,032 But now, even though 1262 00:57:59,032 --> 00:58:02,730 He has withdrawn His presence, 1263 00:58:02,730 --> 00:58:05,844 but you're desperate for Him. 1264 00:58:05,844 --> 00:58:10,862 This is Christ working on you. 1265 00:58:10,862 --> 00:58:17,475 If that's you, be encouraged. 1266 00:58:17,475 --> 00:58:19,867 I don't want to end on this note. 1267 00:58:19,867 --> 00:58:23,484 The bride doesn't stop here. 1268 00:58:23,484 --> 00:58:25,135 I can show you many places 1269 00:58:25,135 --> 00:58:26,665 where she finds Christ 1270 00:58:26,665 --> 00:58:28,954 and she clings to Him. 1271 00:58:28,954 --> 00:58:31,960 In v. 9, the daughters of Jerusalem 1272 00:58:31,960 --> 00:58:33,064 say to the bride, 1273 00:58:33,064 --> 00:58:35,458 "What is thy beloved more than another beloved, 1274 00:58:35,458 --> 00:58:37,819 O, thou fairest among women? 1275 00:58:37,819 --> 00:58:40,005 What is thy beloved more than another beloved 1276 00:58:40,005 --> 00:58:42,705 that thou dost charge us?" 1277 00:58:42,705 --> 00:58:45,667 Now, it could be that the bride 1278 00:58:45,667 --> 00:58:48,983 has left such a bad example, 1279 00:58:48,983 --> 00:58:50,363 that they're saying here, 1280 00:58:50,363 --> 00:58:52,216 why should we seek Him 1281 00:58:52,216 --> 00:58:58,532 if He's so special? 1282 00:58:58,532 --> 00:59:04,652 And we are all an example - good or bad. 1283 00:59:04,652 --> 00:59:06,873 But I don't think that is the case 1284 00:59:06,873 --> 00:59:08,463 here with this text, 1285 00:59:08,463 --> 00:59:12,836 because these are the daughters of Jerusalem. 1286 00:59:12,836 --> 00:59:15,614 They call her, "O, thou fairest among women." 1287 00:59:15,614 --> 00:59:18,707 They have great respect for the bride here. 1288 00:59:18,707 --> 00:59:20,707 I think this is a sense of when you hear 1289 00:59:20,707 --> 00:59:22,096 a testimony of someone like 1290 00:59:22,096 --> 00:59:25,749 Darlene Rose, Corrie Ten Boom, 1291 00:59:25,749 --> 00:59:28,855 and they've seen Christ in heights 1292 00:59:28,855 --> 00:59:30,057 of His love. 1293 00:59:30,057 --> 00:59:32,018 They've experienced more than you have. 1294 00:59:32,018 --> 00:59:36,120 So you want them to recount their stories. 1295 00:59:36,120 --> 00:59:37,810 And you say what is thy beloved 1296 00:59:37,810 --> 00:59:40,135 more than another beloved, 1297 00:59:40,135 --> 00:59:42,009 O fairest among women? 1298 00:59:42,009 --> 00:59:46,097 O, maturer Christian than me. 1299 00:59:46,097 --> 00:59:48,745 Stir me up to seek Him with you, 1300 00:59:48,745 --> 00:59:51,485 as she does in 8.1. 1301 00:59:51,485 --> 00:59:53,654 And then the bride continues, 1302 00:59:53,654 --> 00:59:55,415 "my beloved is white and ruddy, 1303 00:59:55,415 --> 00:59:59,141 the chiefest among ten thousand." 1304 00:59:59,141 --> 01:00:01,730 White here white as a lily, 1305 01:00:01,730 --> 01:00:03,431 as pure as a lily, I think, 1306 01:00:03,431 --> 01:00:04,758 is what this is teaching. 1307 01:00:04,758 --> 01:00:06,765 And ruddy, a ruddy rose. 1308 01:00:06,765 --> 01:00:10,185 Basically, my beloved is pure love. 1309 01:00:10,185 --> 01:00:13,734 And then in such picturesque language here 1310 01:00:13,734 --> 01:00:15,808 she describes Christ. 1311 01:00:15,808 --> 01:00:18,139 She describes every part of her beloved - 1312 01:00:18,139 --> 01:00:19,251 how glorious He is 1313 01:00:19,251 --> 01:00:21,200 and she rounds it off in v. 16 1314 01:00:21,200 --> 01:00:24,108 by saying, "His mouth is most sweet. 1315 01:00:24,108 --> 01:00:27,285 Yea, He is altogether lovely." 1316 01:00:27,285 --> 01:00:29,020 He is wholly desirable. 1317 01:00:29,020 --> 01:00:33,738 Everything about Christ is desirable. 1318 01:00:33,738 --> 01:00:35,715 There is not one flaw in Him. 1319 01:00:35,715 --> 01:00:37,205 "This is my Beloved, 1320 01:00:37,205 --> 01:00:41,265 and this is my Friend, 1321 01:00:41,265 --> 01:00:42,748 O daughters of Jerusalem." 1322 01:00:42,748 --> 01:00:44,655 I want you to notice there 1323 01:00:44,655 --> 01:00:47,380 that by v. 16, she knows Christ 1324 01:00:47,380 --> 01:00:50,842 once again to be close to her. 1325 01:00:50,842 --> 01:00:53,797 She has the assurance 1326 01:00:53,797 --> 01:00:56,005 that He is her friend. 1327 01:00:56,005 --> 01:01:00,555 What caused this? 1328 01:01:00,555 --> 01:01:02,303 The answer is by focusing 1329 01:01:02,303 --> 01:01:03,647 on what Christ is like; 1330 01:01:03,647 --> 01:01:05,033 on His character. 1331 01:01:05,033 --> 01:01:06,855 She took her eyes off self 1332 01:01:06,855 --> 01:01:10,297 and once she saw the character of Christ, 1333 01:01:10,297 --> 01:01:20,442 she knew His love once again for her. 1334 01:01:20,442 --> 01:01:26,948 Again, 6.1, I'm only going to go two more. 1335 01:01:26,948 --> 01:01:28,414 They ask her once again, 1336 01:01:28,414 --> 01:01:29,881 "Whither has thy beloved gone, 1337 01:01:29,881 --> 01:01:31,479 O fairest among women? 1338 01:01:31,479 --> 01:01:33,733 Whither has thy beloved turned aside 1339 01:01:33,733 --> 01:01:35,860 that we may seek Him with thee?" 1340 01:01:35,860 --> 01:01:37,347 This is a prayer meeting - 1341 01:01:37,347 --> 01:01:39,820 seeking Christ together. 1342 01:01:39,820 --> 01:01:42,378 But notice her answer. 1343 01:01:42,378 --> 01:01:43,722 "My beloved has gone down 1344 01:01:43,722 --> 01:01:45,073 into His gardens, 1345 01:01:45,073 --> 01:01:46,596 to the beds of spices 1346 01:01:46,596 --> 01:01:48,148 to feed in the gardens 1347 01:01:48,148 --> 01:01:53,854 and to gather lilies." 1348 01:01:53,854 --> 01:01:55,986 The reason He went from your door 1349 01:01:55,986 --> 01:02:03,274 is to pick flowers for you. 1350 01:02:03,274 --> 01:02:05,906 The lily also in chapter 2, 1351 01:02:05,906 --> 01:02:08,526 you know Christ is compared to a lily. 1352 01:02:08,526 --> 01:02:12,414 And then the believer is compared to a lily. 1353 01:02:12,414 --> 01:02:13,797 A lily among thorns, 1354 01:02:13,797 --> 01:02:16,380 so is my love among the daughters. 1355 01:02:16,380 --> 01:02:19,628 The thorns are the false converts. 1356 01:02:19,628 --> 01:02:23,237 Picture this. This is how Christ sees this world. 1357 01:02:23,237 --> 01:02:26,039 This barren wildnerness of thorny ground. 1358 01:02:26,039 --> 01:02:27,984 Good for nothing but burning. 1359 01:02:27,984 --> 01:02:29,907 And then, there's this one precious lily 1360 01:02:29,907 --> 01:02:32,129 in the middle of it all. 1361 01:02:32,129 --> 01:02:34,744 That is how Christ looks upon you. 1362 01:02:34,744 --> 01:02:36,992 Because He's taken away your sin 1363 01:02:36,992 --> 01:02:39,152 and He's given you His perfect 1364 01:02:39,152 --> 01:02:44,356 beautiful righteousness. 1365 01:02:44,356 --> 01:02:46,592 At the death of a Christian, 1366 01:02:46,592 --> 01:02:48,612 what happens? 1367 01:02:48,612 --> 01:02:52,878 Christ is gathering lilies. 1368 01:02:52,878 --> 01:03:00,900 He's picking flowers for Himself. 1369 01:03:00,900 --> 01:03:04,426 So let me leave you with this. 1370 01:03:04,426 --> 01:03:09,689 Am I speaking to lilies? 1371 01:03:09,689 --> 01:03:13,997 Or am I speaking to thorns? 1372 01:03:13,997 --> 01:03:16,570 Have you come to this place 1373 01:03:16,570 --> 01:03:18,208 where you've seen Christ's love? 1374 01:03:18,208 --> 01:03:19,519 Or do you still see Him 1375 01:03:19,519 --> 01:03:23,258 as a hard taskmaster? 1376 01:03:23,258 --> 01:03:27,303 Again, it is finished upon that cross. 1377 01:03:27,303 --> 01:03:32,790 Just surrender to His love. 1378 01:03:32,790 --> 01:03:36,225 You pass from death to life. 1379 01:03:36,225 --> 01:03:37,792 If you will just surrender 1380 01:03:37,792 --> 01:03:40,223 to what He's done - 1381 01:03:40,223 --> 01:03:41,794 His finished work. 1382 01:03:41,794 --> 01:03:49,849 If you come to Him, He will not cast you out. 1383 01:03:49,849 --> 01:03:51,848 But come to Him on His terms. 1384 01:03:51,848 --> 01:03:55,462 Yield to Him. 1385 01:03:55,462 --> 01:04:00,739 Surrender to His love. 1386 01:04:00,739 --> 01:04:02,330 Stop trying to save yourself 1387 01:04:02,330 --> 01:04:05,220 and say, "Lord, save me." 1388 01:04:05,220 --> 01:04:15,125 So let's close in prayer. 1389 01:04:15,125 --> 01:04:18,420 Father, I just thank You 1390 01:04:18,420 --> 01:04:19,841 that You chose to love us 1391 01:04:19,841 --> 01:04:26,257 before You laid the foundations of the world; 1392 01:04:26,257 --> 01:04:30,087 that Your love to us is without beginning, without end; 1393 01:04:30,087 --> 01:04:31,889 that even before we were in the womb, 1394 01:04:31,889 --> 01:04:34,714 You knew us, Father. 1395 01:04:34,714 --> 01:04:36,334 I thank You that Yours is a love 1396 01:04:36,334 --> 01:04:37,863 that will not let us go - 1397 01:04:37,863 --> 01:04:40,328 a love that is stronger than death; 1398 01:04:40,328 --> 01:04:41,892 that many waters, many floods, 1399 01:04:41,892 --> 01:04:48,028 cannot quench the flame of Jehovah. 1400 01:04:48,028 --> 01:04:51,834 I pray You would use these words now, Lord, 1401 01:04:51,834 --> 01:04:55,300 to help us to put You first; 1402 01:04:55,300 --> 01:04:57,910 to seek You first. 1403 01:04:57,910 --> 01:05:02,063 May Your Spirit teach us these words, 1404 01:05:02,063 --> 01:05:05,590 so they become our intimate friends. 1405 01:05:05,590 --> 01:05:10,224 May we own these words, Father, 1406 01:05:10,224 --> 01:05:14,631 and know that Your desire is towards us 1407 01:05:14,631 --> 01:05:17,725 and that we are Yours 1408 01:05:17,725 --> 01:05:19,942 because You sought us and bought us 1409 01:05:19,942 --> 01:05:25,961 at a price. 1410 01:05:25,961 --> 01:05:27,501 I pray, Lord, for anyone 1411 01:05:27,501 --> 01:05:29,096 who does not know You; 1412 01:05:29,096 --> 01:05:33,069 for anyone who is struggling with assurance even, 1413 01:05:33,069 --> 01:05:37,124 that they would own these truths this day. 1414 01:05:37,124 --> 01:05:38,937 That they would come to the Father 1415 01:05:38,937 --> 01:05:40,810 through Jesus the Son 1416 01:05:40,810 --> 01:05:42,820 and give Him the glory. 1417 01:05:42,820 --> 01:05:46,359 Great things He has done. 1418 01:05:46,359 --> 01:05:47,712 In Jesus' name, 1419 01:05:47,712 --> 01:05:50,241 Amen.