Okay, well, good morning, everyone. Lovely to see you here today. Please can I invite you to grab a Bible and absolutely use the contents page to find this book of the Bible called The Song of Songs.
I would say it's just after Ecclesiastes, but that might actually cause more confusion than help. So contents page, The Book of the Song of Songs is where we're going to be over the next six weeks, getting into this wonderful book of the Bible together.
I don't think we've ever preached here in my time at Brunsfield. So really excited to get into it today.
Today, we're going to read chapter one and the first little bit of chapter two in about 15 minutes time. So just in case you think I've lost the plot, that's the plan.
So please do keep it open in front of you. I thought it'd be helpful to try and get our bearings in this portion of God's words today.
And with that in mind, let me confess what Alex and I watch when we're tired and we just want to watch some mindless TV at the end of the day.
You know, we've all got our kind of go-to programs. Maybe it's the Beach Grove Garden. Maybe it's Full Contact Six Nations on Netflix.
Well, for us, it's Friends. And you can judge me on that if you want. I'm okay.
We're watching Friends recently and there's a scene that came up where Joey and Monica are talking about how easy it is to move on after a breakup.
And this is Peak 90s TV. I grew up on this stuff. Joey says this,
It's never taken me more than a week to get over a relationship.
To which Monica replies,
It's never taken you more than a shower to get over a relationship.
Peak 90s, friends.
Let me summarize Joey Tribbiani's attitude to women.
As long as it's consensual and no one gets hurt, then it's game on.
And if it ever gets costly and you don't fancy the hassle, then move on.
It's the best way to live your life.
Not the kind of greeting you want in your Valentine's Day card, is it?
When that day rolls around in February.
But it is what the sexual evolution of the last few decades promised us.
More sex, better sex, and more fulfilled people.
And we've got to ask the question, a couple of decades on,
Has this revolution worked?
Has the revolution as it threw off the old sex reserved for marriage fetters of previous generations,
has it worked?
Well, it's interesting you've got people around today,
non-Christians feeding into this discussion,
who are telling us that it hasn't.
So here, for example, is non-Christian sociologist Jean Twenge,
in her book Generations,
which is well worth a read as she tracks the differences in the generations.
And it's a fascinating read.
Here's what she says.
Gen Z adults should be having the time of their life sexually.
But they aren't.
In fact, Gen Z is having markedly less sex than Gen Xers and Millennials did as young adults.
Maybe you've heard of the sex recession.
For Gen Z, it's a sex depression.
Interesting.
Or here's American non-Christian author Louise Perry,
in her book The Case Against the Sexual Revolution.
She writes this.
I don't believe the last 60 years or so should be understood as a period of exclusive progress or exclusive decline.
Because the sexual revolution has not freed all of us,
but it has freed some of us,
and selectively,
and at a price.
And if you read her book,
here's what she observes.
Who are the people in our world,
down in the generations,
who've benefited from the sexual revolution
and what it promised?
The rich,
those with power,
and those who are famous.
Now, worth clocking that for where we're going to go in about 15 minutes' time.
Friends, here's two observations for you this morning.
However you come to church,
whenever you think about the God of the Bible,
whatever you find yourself doing in life,
here's two observations.
Number one,
the sexual ethic of our generation isn't delivering.
And number two,
what God has to say is worth hearing.
Because God has something to say into this whole arena of sex, romance, and relationships.
And maybe for you here today,
that is brand new.
You thought,
I didn't think God had anything to say into that whole subject.
Friends, I love that you're here,
if that's what you're thinking today.
Love that you're here.
And I'd love for you,
with patience and grace,
to journey with us as a church
as we explore what God has to say into this whole arena.
Have you ever considered,
dear friend,
that there is more to the heart of Christianity
than maybe you've got in your mind at present?
Have you ever considered that those longings that you have to be loved and to be known,
and why they seem to be so elusive,
is because you're looking for it in all the wrong places.
Have you ever considered that the purpose of our existence,
the reason that we are created with desires,
is that so we'd have our breath taken away
by a different kind of love from the God of the universe.
Come and journey with this in this book.
Because here is an eight chapter love drama
that celebrates the love and sexual intimacy
that is enjoyed in an exclusive relationship
between a man and a woman.
Now get this,
this is a song that was considered so racy and suggestive
that apparently Jewish men were not allowed to read it publicly
in the synagogue until they were 30.
Welcome to the Song of Songs,
which is a Hebrew superlative,
basically saying this is the best song ever.
And the Song of Songs,
along with the Psalms, Ecclesiastes, and Proverbs,
this is part of the wisdom section of our Bible.
I think it's probably one of the least understood
and tapped into portions of the Bible.
And it's wonderful.
The wisdom section of our Bibles
have all sorts of things to say into our everyday realities.
Wisdom literature,
this is all about how to live God's way
in God's world for our good.
Say it again.
How to live in God's way
in God's world
for our good.
Isn't it amazing that God would speak into this?
Friends, God has things to say
into every aspect of our life.
And he has things to say
into the deepest parts of our lives.
Do you know why?
Because he made all of life.
And that means we always need to be asking ourselves
when we're in this portion of our Bibles
is how is this teaching us to be wise?
What is there here for me to learn?
What am I supposed to be understanding
about sex and relationships?
And what we're going to get in the Song of Songs
is the great debunking of two great lies
which we often believe about sex.
Here's the first one.
I'm sorry I didn't quite line up in the PowerPoint.
The first one is a lie
that we too easily assume in the church
and it's this,
that we can't talk about it.
And the Song of Songs would come along,
burst that bubble and say not true.
I think because we often don't talk about it,
what we've often done as the church
is that we've passed on to the next generation
a bunch of sexual morals
at the expense of the accompanying story
which undergirds it
and which people can understand it.
And because we've not passed on that story,
we've just passed on morals.
No wonder people, friends,
look in the world and think
they're having so much more fun than we are.
As far as the origin of human sexual desires
is concerned,
can we just put it out there
that this was God's move?
Right?
It's not like Adam and Eve got together
at the beginning of the Bible
and God happened to walk along
and catch them in the act
and said to himself,
how on earth did they figure that out?
No, being naked and not ashamed,
man and woman delighting to become one flesh
as they come together
was God's idea, not humanity's.
And that's to say right up top
that God is for sex.
God put those desires in human beings.
Yes, for us to enjoy,
but we're going to see as we go on
ultimately as a signpost for us to see
that it points to something deeper.
And here's the second line
and it's one that we too easily accept
from our culture
and it's namely this.
Feelings are king.
Either sex is nothing,
but Joey Tribbiani is treated as cheap.
It is the,
what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas
or as Tina Turner sang,
if you're around in this generation,
what's love got to do with it?
Lyrics as shallow as they are catchy,
it's physical only logical.
You must try to ignore
that it means more than that.
So sex is cheap,
sex is nothing,
or we go the other extreme
and sex is everything.
We're going to think about this more next week,
that you've got to find the one.
And if you don't find the one,
then you're missing out.
And what we've got to see
is that this is the drumbeat of the world.
It's the narrative
that we're consistently being sold
when it comes to sex and romance.
And again,
the Song of Songs would come along,
burst the bubble and say,
not true.
And that's why,
to quote my friend Tom,
down in Bath,
what this series is all about
is turning down
the volume of the world's song
and turning up the volume
of the Song of Songs.
Let me just go pastoral
just for a minute.
Because maybe you're thinking,
honestly,
the last thing that I need right now
is a love song.
If I wanted that,
I'd just tune into Radio 2
on a Sunday morning,
listen to Michael Ball,
does it way better than we do.
Because then at least
I could turn it off.
Maybe for you,
even contemplating this stuff,
it just brings back
memories and feelings
of regret and mistakes.
Or maybe it's pain
because it reminds you
of someone
who you once shared
that level of
human and sexual intimacy with
and you miss them
more than words
they can convey.
Or maybe it's resentment
because you'd love
to be married,
but for whatever reason
it just
hasn't happened
for you.
Hear me say,
however this lands
on you today,
two things.
Number one,
that it's okay,
in fact,
it's more than okay
to find it difficult.
And part of being
a church family together
is carrying
each other's burdens.
the happiness
and the heartache.
God has put us
in each other's lives
so that we can walk
with each other
through the joys
and the sorrows
that come our way.
But here's thing number two.
Friends,
to some extent,
we are all wounded
in this area.
And we all need
the healing
perspective
and hope
which is found
in the Song of Songs
because this song
is one
massive signpost
to the beauty
of Jesus.
And my prayer
for this
series
is we
contemplate
his person
and his character
is that we would
feel the intensity
of his love
towards us.
How often in life
it feels like
no human words
can really
heal
and help
when we are
wounded
and hurt
in this area.
But his words
can.
And I pray
that they will.
Now listen,
some of your Bibles
might say
Song of Solomon.
Maybe just worth
asking at this point
who's this guy
Solomon.
Well Solomon
is the son
of King David
and Solomon
in the Bible
becomes synonymous
with two things.
Two W's
if you like.
Here they are.
Number one
is wisdom.
So he comes
to personify
wisdom
through
the Bible.
It's the gift
that God
gave him.
But here's
number two.
It's woman.
And I love
that the Bible
gives us that
warts and all.
His downfall
is his love
of sex
and of women.
In fact,
the Bible
would tell us
that this guy
had a thousand
sexual partners.
Women are tools
to be used
to satisfy
his sexual desires.
Think back
to that quote
a few minutes ago
in Solomon's world
who has benefited
from the sexual
ethic of his
day.
He has.
Why?
Because he is rich,
he is powerful,
and he is famous.
And all that means
that unless he had
a complete change
of heart,
I think he is
unlikely to be
the author of
this song
because this is
all about sexual
enjoyment in a
one man,
one woman marriage
context,
and that wasn't
really his game.
So what is
perhaps likely
going on here
is that the person
who wrote this
is putting words
in Solomon's mouth
as it were
as he symbolizes
and personifies
wisdom as if to say
this is how
true wisdom
speaks and operates
when it comes
to sex
and relationships.
And here's what
we're going to see.
God's heart
for this,
his blueprint
is that this is
not about
self-serving.
No, wisdom
for sex
and relationships
is man and woman
made equal
in dignity
and worth
in the image
of God,
participating
in a relationship
of radical
self-giving.
And this goes
right against
the grain
of that day
and it goes
right against
the grain of this day
just in different ways.
But here's what
I want you to see.
Notice,
come with me to the text.
We're going to get there.
Notice who gets
the microphone
first in this song.
Have a look at it.
Who gets the microphone
first?
Clue?
It's not him.
Do you see it?
It's not him.
Again,
think of Solomon's world.
Think of the
sexual ethic
of his day.
Who gets the first
line in this song?
It's her.
Hugely significant.
Because she is
no damsel in distress.
The woman in this song
is not some kind
of Middle Eastern
eye candy.
She is on the front foot
and she's telling us
why she's singing
her song.
She's telling us
what she's found
in her man
and her man's
going to tell us
what he has found
in her.
Now,
we're going to get
to the text.
Bogdan's going to
come.
We need this
in 30 seconds time.
But here's the question
I want you to ask
as we walk through it.
Because remember,
this is a song
and we hear it
how we hear
our modern day songs
full of images,
metaphors,
poetry,
all that kind of thing.
Don't need to take
everything literally
because you're getting
a lot of bother
if you do that
in this song.
But you can work out
what's going on
as you feel
the beat of this song.
Right,
Bogdan,
here's the question.
What are they
trying to tell us
about their love
for each other
in this song?
Bogdan,
you come and read it
and then we'll get
back into it
together.
Morning.
I'm Bogdan,
a member here.
We're in Song of Songs 1
down to 2-7.
Song of Songs 1.
Solomon's Song of Songs.
Let him kiss me
with the kisses
of his mouth
for your love
is more delightful
than wine.
Pleasing is the fragrance
of your perfumes.
Your name is like
perfume poured out.
No wonder the young
women love you.
Take me away with you.
Let us hurry.
Let the king bring me
into his chambers.
We rejoice in the delight
of you.
We praise your love
more than wine.
How right they are
to adore you.
Dark am I,
yet lovely.
Daughters of Jerusalem.
Dark like the tents
of Kedar,
like the tent curtains
of Solomon.
Do not stare at me
because I am dark,
because I am darkened
by the sun.
My mother's sons
were angry with me
and made me take care
of their vineyards,
my own vineyard
that I had to neglect.
Tell me,
you whom I love,
where you gaze
your flock
and where you rest
your sheep at midday.
Why should I be like
a veiled woman
besides the flock
of your friends?
If you do not know
a most beautiful woman,
follow the tracks
of the sheep
and graze your young goats
by the tent
of the shepherds.
I liken you,
my darling,
to a mare
among Therese chariot horses.
Your cheeks
are beautiful
with earrings,
your neck
with strings of jewels.
We will make you
earrings of gold
studded with silver.
While the king
was at his table,
my perfume
spread its fragrance.
My beloved is to me
a statue of mare
resting between my breasts.
My beloved is to me
a cluster of henna blossoms
from the vineyards
of En Gedi.
How beautiful you are,
my darling.
Oh, how beautiful.
Your eyes are dull.
How handsome you are,
my beloved.
Oh, how charming.
And our bed is verdant.
The barns of our house
are chedders,
our rafters are furs.
I am a rose of Sharon,
a lily in the valleys.
Like a lily among the ferns
is my darling
among the young woman.
Like an apple tree
among the trees
of the forest
is my beloved
among the young man.
I delight to sit in the shade
and its fruit is sweet
to my taste.
Let him lead me
to the banquet hall
and let his banner
over me be love.
Strengthen me with raisins,
refreshing me with apples,
for I am faint with love.
His left arm is under my head
and his right arm embraces me.
Daughters of Jerusalem,
I charge you
by the gazelles
and by the dogs
of the fields
to not arouse
or awaken love
until it so desires.
This is God's word.
Amen.
Nice.
Okay.
Bogdan did that
without giggling.
Excellent.
It's brilliant.
So friends,
what we have here
in the opening scene,
remember this is a drama.
So I think you can
kind of make a case
that there's a progression
throughout this.
We'll find the wedding day
in a couple of weeks' time
but what we have
in this section
is this couple
kind of first
meeting each other.
And really her song
has got two notes to it.
Now track with me
in the text
and you'll see this.
She's telling us
firstly why
she's fallen for him.
Now notice
how sensual this is.
Verse 1.
She enjoys his touch.
She wants to be kissed
by him all over.
Verse 2.
Guy's clearly got
his old spice on.
He smells great.
She says the thought
of being with him
is better than tasting
the best wine.
But here's what
I want you to see.
What else has she
fallen for
about this guy?
His name.
Do you see it?
His name.
Which in the Bible
is always associated
with one's character.
So in other words
you hear this guy's name
and you're thinking
to yourself
quality guy.
He's a catch.
And that's why
she knows
that all the girls
want you.
Now this guy's
a shepherd.
That's what he does.
But to her
he's like a king.
That's what's going on here.
He's the cream
of the crop.
The love bug
has well and truly
bitten.
She is smitten.
And then we get
this group.
Do you see them
called the others?
You jump in here
at verse 4.
The friends.
They're kind of like
the best friends
of the woman.
So this is
bridesmaid material.
This little group here.
And all the way
through the song
they're kind of
in the background
watching this romance
between this guy
and this gal
blossom and flourish.
And they pop up
throughout the book
offering wisdom.
Now again
I guess this group
are a bit like
that scene in Greece.
Do you know
the one where
all the girls
gather around Sandy
and tell me more
tell me more.
That's the kind of thing
that's going on here.
Right?
And you've got to
see this.
Her happiness
is their happiness.
Do you see it?
Her happiness
is their happiness.
Side note
how wonderful
are friends
in your life
like that
who genuinely
are happy
for you
when life goes well.
Who don't begrudge.
Who don't get jealous.
Friends who genuinely
want the best
for you.
Can I say
it's a wonderful
sign of maturity?
Be that kind of friend.
But the camera
pans back to her
and we get the sense
that she's beginning
to feel insecure
about how she looks.
Verse 5
I am very dark.
Similarly
like the tents
of Kedar.
Kedar.
Now those
were tents
that were notorious
for being made
of dark brown cowhide.
So you get the imagery
here of what she's saying.
Now you might be thinking
why is that an issue?
Well to have a tan
in this day
isn't a sign
of health and wealth
like it is today.
Like she's just
come back from
the south of Spain
or something like that.
Right?
Her skin is tanned.
Do you see it?
Verse 6
because her
stepbrothers
have made her
go out
and work
in the farm.
Do you see it?
And she's tanned
from all that
time that she's spent
working in the
baking sun.
And I guess
her tan
says to the world
that if you like
she is a
working class
kind of girl.
And that's why
she says
my own vineyard
I had to neglect.
Now vineyard
they're just a
metaphor for her
body.
You get the picture?
She's been working
all day.
Her hair's everywhere.
She smells
terrible.
She looks sweaty.
Every one of her
fingernails
has got dirt
underneath.
And what she
says
she looks
at herself
she says
I am a rose
of Sharon
a lily
of the valleys.
Now we've got to
work a wee bit hard
to see what she's
saying there.
A rose of Sharon
is like
a common ground
flower in this day.
So if your garden
is anything like
mine right now
this is like
a daisy.
Every single one
looks the same.
You couldn't tell
the difference
from any of them.
There's nothing
to see here.
That's what she's
saying about herself.
And all that
means that she's
thinking to herself
I don't like
the way I look.
Now friends
how modern
is that?
And I was
reading this week
about how one
of the most
popular social
media picture
filters made
popular by the
likes of Kim
Kardashian
is this thing
called Insta
Baddy.
And it's this
filter where
you can
girls can puff
up their lips
and narrow
their cheekbones.
Young girls
are using this
all the time.
And the
tragedy of it
is that experts
have concluded
about this filter
that it's almost
impossible to
replicate
in real life.
In other words
it is totally
unnatural.
natural.
And I feel
that in a way
maybe that I
wouldn't have a
decade ago
with four
daughters,
the world
that they're
growing up
in.
Friends,
what are we
teaching them
about beauty
and where
it comes
from?
Here is a
young woman
feeling unworthy
because she
doesn't fit into
social stereotypes
about what beauty
really is.
and we need
to see where
she finds it.
And friends,
this is wonderful
and if you take
one thing from
this today,
take this.
She doesn't
find it from
within herself.
She finds it
in what this
man from
the outside
says is true
about her
and that he
speaks it over
her.
And his
words from
the outside
into her
life totally
transform the
game.
Again,
we're going to
park that
thought from
where we
finish at the
end.
Because is
she unworthy?
What does
this guy think
about her?
Is he going
to run a
mile when he
really sees
who she is?
See him
respond at
verse 8.
And see
how his
words
transform
her.
What does
he say?
Oh,
most beautiful
among women.
What's he
saying?
The feeling
is mutual.
What does
he say?
I love
this.
I compare
you,
my love,
not to a
summer's
day.
He says,
I compare
you to a
mare among
Pharaoh's
chariots.
Now,
given you're
like a
horse,
there's not
a chat up
line,
guys,
that we
should be
using
anytime
soon.
But when
you consider
that Pharaoh's
chariots,
this is the
king's
horses.
Now,
if you
remember
that
Aladdin
street
parade,
you can
tell what
life stage
I'm at,
okay?
You understand
that the
horses,
the king's
horses are
going to be
dressed in
fine linen,
adorned in
jewels.
That's what
she's saying.
You're the
best.
Verse 15,
you are
beautiful,
my love.
How beautiful,
you ask?
Well,
chapter 2,
verse 2,
you are
like a
lily among
brambles.
Again,
going to
work hard.
Lily among
brambles.
What is
he saying?
He's
saying all
the girls
in the
world are
black and
white and
you're the
only one
in color.
That's what
he's saying.
He's got
eyes for
her alone.
And see
secondly then,
her tell us
then in light
of his
words to
her,
how she
feels when
she's with
him.
Verse 3
of chapter
2,
what great
delight as
I sat
in his
shadow.
Get this,
his banner
over me
was love.
So she's
telling everyone
who'll listen
that when
she's in the
presence of
her man,
she finds
life,
she finds
acceptance,
she finds
love,
and she
finds security.
love.
She's
with her
man.
That's the
kind of
love she
feels when
she's with
her man.
And that's
why she
turns to
her friends,
these daughters
of Jerusalem,
again verse
seven,
and she
says,
nothing compares
to this.
Nothing
compares to
this.
And then
comes the
refrain,
one that
we're going
to hear
repeated often
throughout
this letter.
It's going
to come
up three
times at
key points
throughout.
Her
advice to
her friends
is do
not stir
up or
awaken
love until
it pleases.
Or in
other words,
until the
time is
right.
And you
better believe
in a few
chapters time,
she is going
to tell us
when the
time is
right.
And I'm
away that
weekend,
and I've
given it to
JT,
and he'll
do a
wonderful
job of
that.
But here
is what
she's
saying.
You're
not going
to find
a love
like this
in a
one-night
stand.
It's
too precious
just to
give away
to somebody
who may
or may
not be
there the
day after.
No,
to experience
it,
she's saying
to her
friends,
with a
person who
has committed
themselves,
body and
soul to
you,
we'll think
about more
about that
next week,
and isn't
just in
it for
you on
your
Instagrammable
best days,
but will
still be
there loving
you,
holding you on
your worst
days.
That's the
right time.
Friends,
the sexual
intimacy of
this song,
it's intimacy
in the
context of
commitment.
And so,
two questions
this text
asks us
to think
about when
it comes
to the
whole area
of sex
and romance.
Here they
are.
Number one,
friends,
are we
looking for
the right
things?
The wisdom
here,
particularly
for those
of us
who aren't
married,
but are
looking into
this whole
area of
relationships,
is to
base those
decisions on
more than
just how
someone looks.
Are you
looking for
someone who
has a name,
their
character,
and in
particular,
do they
love Jesus?
Do they
love him?
Do they
seek to
follow him?
And as
they follow
him,
are they
going to
love you
like he
loves you?
And would
you strive
to be
someone of
whom others
look at
and conclude,
what a
name.
And for
those of us
who are
married,
let this
remind us
of the
power of
words.
As we
watch this
young couple
shower each
other with
compliments,
the challenge
is not
to lose
that sense
of appreciation
and affection
for your
spouse.
You know,
what attracted
you to your
spouse in
the first
place?
When was
the last
time you
held hands
in public?
What do
you notice
about them
today that
you can
compliment
them on,
particularly
when it
comes to
their
character?
Where are
they growing
in
godliness?
This says
to us,
don't let
the fire
of romance
go out
if it's
in your
power to
do something
about it.
So,
friends,
are we
looking for
the right
things?
And here's
the second
thing.
Are we
listening to
the right
words?
Because
maybe you
hear the
words of
verse 15.
Behold,
you are
beautiful,
my love.
And you
long that
someone would
say that
about you.
And this
is where
we're going
to close
this first
section this
morning.
We're going
to pick up
so many
more of
these themes
as we
go.
But I
just want
to finish
here.
You know,
maybe you're
of this
generation
who you
played this
game where
you picked
up a
daisy and
you did
this whole
thing,
you pulled
off the
petals one
by one.
Remember
that line?
He loves
me,
he loves
me not,
he loves
me,
he loves
me not.
Which way
is it
going to
go?
Strikes
me that
that is
where this
woman is
at the
start of
this song.
I'm not
sure he
does.
Friends,
the good
news for
you today
as we
think about
the broader
purpose of
this song
and where
it points
us,
is that if
your faith
is in
Jesus,
there is
someone who
says it
over you
and delights
to say it
over you.
He says,
you are
beautiful,
my love,
and his
name is
Jesus.
And let's
allow that
to bring us
wonderful
assurance
today.
No matter
what your
marital status,
your romantic
relationships,
wherever you're
at,
friends,
this is the
voice that
matters.
And this
is the
voice that
we need
to allow
to transform
us.
And the
wonderful thing
is the
gospel says
it's not
token.
The wonder
of the
gospel is
that Jesus
loved us
even when
we were
his enemies.
He loved
us when we
were dead
in our
transgressions
and sins.
So it's not
like we made
the first
move.
The
gospel says
the
initiative
was all
his.
A
father that
existed,
father,
son,
spirit,
the father
sends the
son,
the son
takes human
flesh,
the son
came for
us,
he lived
for us,
he died
for us,
and if your
faith is in
him today,
you can
know on
your best
day and
on your
worst day
that he
loves you,
he has
taken
all your
shame,
and all
our mistakes,
and all
our regrets,
and all
our guilt,
he has
taken it
away through
his work
on the
cross.
And at
the time
he united
us to
himself and
he clothed
us with
his beauty.
And that's
why he says
to us on
our best
days and
on our
worst days,
you are
beautiful,
my love.
Oh,
friends,
let us be
reminded of
our Savior
and his
stunning and
his surprising
love for
us.
Don't ever
doubt it.
No matter
how you're
feeling,
no matter
what season
of life
that you're
in,
do not
doubt his
love and
his commitment
to us.
And the
thing is,
Christ loves
us and
he longs
through the
circumstances
of our
lives to
teach us
and to
birth in
us that
same love
for him
in return.
You know,
we all feel
that love is,
as you two
sang,
the sweetest
thing.
but with
Jesus,
we can
know why.
Because his
love for
us is the
story of
the cosmos.
Can I just
plug, just
before we
pray and
finish,
we've got
tons of
these books
at the
back to
flog,
and they're
free,
just take
them or
you can
give a
donation
if you
want.
They're
just
called
Surprised
by
Jesus.
Friends,
if your
affections
for him
have maybe
petered out,
maybe they're
low,
maybe you're
struggling at
the minute,
maybe you're
weary,
can I highly
suggest this
book will
help you.
Maybe
something fresh
to read
devotionally,
maybe just
something to
read this
afternoon.
It is
wonderful.
Come and
be surprised
by Jesus.
His love
for us
is the
story of
the cosmos.
Please come
back next
week,
we'll get
more into
this song,
but why
don't just
now we
pause and
let's pray
because I
realize that
we've touched
on a lot
of things
this morning
and let's
allow God
through his
Holy Spirit
to minister
to us this
morning through
his word.
And so
Father,
I am so
aware of
my inadequacy
here,
inadequacy
here.
Father,
I pray that
your spirit
would be
working in
our lives.
Lord,
even to
the deepest
of wounds,
would he
through your
word be
bringing that
healing knowledge
of who Jesus
is today.
Father,
we just want
to commit
ourselves to
you and we
ask that you
would help
raise our
eyes to
consider the
beauty and
the worth
of Jesus.
Thank you
truly that he
is the great
lover of
souls.
Father,
help us to
rest in
his wonderful
love for us,
we pray.
In Jesus'
name.
Amen.
Thank you.