WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.400 Well, good morning, everyone. Thank you, Fiona and Alistair, for really bringing that alive to us there. 00:00:06.040 --> 00:00:13.439 That was great. So, let me just pray as we begin before we get stuck into what God's Word has to say to us this morning. 00:00:14.800 --> 00:00:19.879 God and Father, we pray for this time this morning. We thank you for your Word. 00:00:20.620 --> 00:00:26.780 We pray that you will speak to each one of us and that there'll be more of you and that there'll be less of me 00:00:26.780 --> 00:00:32.240 and that each one of us will have open hearts ready to receive your Word. Amen. 00:00:34.000 --> 00:00:40.320 So, in the Song of Songs, the Song of Songs. Now, this is our third installment. We've had two weeks already. 00:00:41.020 --> 00:00:45.680 And whether or not you've been here, I'm going to do a bit of a recap because it's always good to remember 00:00:45.680 --> 00:00:50.939 where we've been, what the book's all about before we get stuck into this passage this morning. 00:00:50.939 --> 00:00:57.299 So, this is the Song of Songs, sometimes called the Song of Solomon. That might be what your book says. 00:00:57.399 --> 00:01:03.759 And that takes it from chapter 1, verse 1, the Song of Songs, which is of Solomon. 00:01:04.400 --> 00:01:07.500 So, this is part of the wisdom literature part of the Bible. 00:01:08.200 --> 00:01:13.539 So, that includes Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Job, and the Song of Songs. 00:01:13.540 --> 00:01:21.020 And the title, the Song of Songs, well, that's a sort of idiom, a phrase that would mean the best of songs. 00:01:21.180 --> 00:01:26.640 The best of the best. This is the song of all songs, might be a way to put it. 00:01:27.560 --> 00:01:30.520 And it is love poetry. That is how it is written. 00:01:31.240 --> 00:01:33.900 Now, love poetry was very common back in these days. 00:01:34.760 --> 00:01:39.719 And the words used and all the phrases used, these would have been common things there. 00:01:39.719 --> 00:01:42.560 But this was the song of all songs. 00:01:43.659 --> 00:01:49.579 And love poetry, well, it was poems that explored desire, explored love, explored relationships. 00:01:50.079 --> 00:01:52.099 That was what they were all about. 00:01:53.439 --> 00:01:59.920 And we'll see this morning, and we've seen already, that there's really three interpretations when it comes to this book. 00:02:00.640 --> 00:02:04.939 You have the Jewish tradition of seeing it as the relationship between Jehovah 00:02:04.939 --> 00:02:09.479 and then the people of Israel, that faithful people of Israel. 00:02:10.520 --> 00:02:14.639 You have the Christian tradition of looking at it and seeing the Lord Jesus. 00:02:14.859 --> 00:02:18.060 And we really do see him, while not mentioned explicitly, 00:02:18.340 --> 00:02:21.280 and we'll see how we see him this morning in this passage. 00:02:21.900 --> 00:02:27.099 And his relationship to believers, the church, who is described as his bride. 00:02:27.099 --> 00:02:33.000 And then the third interpretation or application that we get from the song of songs 00:02:33.000 --> 00:02:38.299 is about human relationships and about how God designed them. 00:02:39.740 --> 00:02:45.199 So the last two weeks, in chapter 1, 2, and the start of 3, we've seen this man and woman. 00:02:46.539 --> 00:02:49.819 We've seen her delight in her shepherd man. 00:02:50.240 --> 00:02:51.180 They are engaged. 00:02:51.840 --> 00:02:54.379 And vice versa, he delights in her. 00:02:54.379 --> 00:02:56.639 They have that reciprocal love. 00:02:58.019 --> 00:02:59.240 And then today is the day. 00:02:59.659 --> 00:03:01.560 It's the wedding day. 00:03:02.539 --> 00:03:04.579 You know, two of our church family got married on Friday, 00:03:04.699 --> 00:03:07.919 and they would have been building up to that for weeks and years and months or whatever. 00:03:09.299 --> 00:03:10.659 But today is the wedding day. 00:03:11.039 --> 00:03:13.539 So let's get stuck in and look at it. 00:03:14.219 --> 00:03:17.240 First, we're going to see the glory of the king. 00:03:18.180 --> 00:03:19.519 The glory of the king. 00:03:19.900 --> 00:03:21.979 Then we're going to see the beauty of the bride. 00:03:22.900 --> 00:03:24.000 The beauty of the bride. 00:03:24.000 --> 00:03:27.620 And then we're going to look at the perfection of the marriage. 00:03:28.580 --> 00:03:32.360 So let's first of all look at the glory of the king. 00:03:33.620 --> 00:03:35.740 Now, who, most people probably into a wedding. 00:03:36.240 --> 00:03:37.879 You've at least seen a film that involves a wedding. 00:03:37.979 --> 00:03:39.840 Now, who is the centerpiece of the wedding? 00:03:40.639 --> 00:03:42.300 There's a big clue in that picture. 00:03:43.539 --> 00:03:44.740 It's the bride, isn't it? 00:03:45.780 --> 00:03:47.360 There's a big procession comes. 00:03:47.520 --> 00:03:50.080 You know, the men, they're all at the front, the groom and the groomsmen, 00:03:50.199 --> 00:03:52.080 sort of laughing and joking with each other, 00:03:52.080 --> 00:03:53.639 trying to pretend they're not nervous. 00:03:54.439 --> 00:03:58.099 And then you've got all the people come early and they're standing, waiting, 00:03:58.259 --> 00:04:00.580 sitting, waiting for the procession to come. 00:04:01.259 --> 00:04:03.680 And then suddenly it goes hush and it's quiet. 00:04:04.520 --> 00:04:08.360 Then the bridesmaids, they come in and there's that kind of strange walk that they do 00:04:08.360 --> 00:04:10.300 that's not too fast, not too slow. 00:04:11.719 --> 00:04:15.159 And then eventually, the main event, the bride appears. 00:04:15.620 --> 00:04:16.699 Everyone looks back. 00:04:16.699 --> 00:04:19.819 Oh, doesn't she look beautiful? 00:04:21.959 --> 00:04:23.719 Well, this, in a sense, is the opposite. 00:04:24.500 --> 00:04:26.039 And this was the tradition back then. 00:04:26.120 --> 00:04:30.699 We have this shepherd, this shepherd man, but he's returning here. 00:04:30.759 --> 00:04:34.259 He's coming in the glory of the king. 00:04:35.219 --> 00:04:40.759 And we have this mighty procession that we read about in chapter 3, verse 6 through to 11. 00:04:42.120 --> 00:04:46.060 What is that coming up from the wilderness like columns of smoke? 00:04:46.860 --> 00:04:49.040 This procession, this would have been seen for miles. 00:04:49.180 --> 00:04:51.920 The dust was beginning kicked up with all this people coming. 00:04:52.720 --> 00:04:54.120 The king in all his glory. 00:04:55.060 --> 00:04:56.579 And we have this king language. 00:04:56.780 --> 00:04:59.379 Please do have the book in front of you. 00:04:59.379 --> 00:05:01.980 Please do have your head in it as we go through. 00:05:02.120 --> 00:05:02.920 That would be very helpful. 00:05:04.040 --> 00:05:05.420 But we have this king language. 00:05:05.560 --> 00:05:08.779 We see the litter, the carriage or his chariot. 00:05:09.100 --> 00:05:11.000 We see the best of wood of Lebanon. 00:05:11.759 --> 00:05:15.360 We have silver and gold and purple and the crown. 00:05:15.680 --> 00:05:18.339 And we have king mentioned twice. 00:05:19.120 --> 00:05:21.420 So we really do have this king language. 00:05:22.219 --> 00:05:23.879 This is a royal procession. 00:05:23.879 --> 00:05:24.879 It is rich. 00:05:25.180 --> 00:05:27.060 There is no expense spared. 00:05:27.060 --> 00:05:31.819 And you know, this would have actually been a culturally common thing. 00:05:32.100 --> 00:05:36.680 That the groom would come in all his glory and splendor and all eyes would be on him. 00:05:37.620 --> 00:05:41.740 And it tended to be that the bride was there too getting brought to the wedding. 00:05:42.340 --> 00:05:47.819 She would potentially have been on that litter, that kind of bed that was carried as part of this procession. 00:05:48.519 --> 00:05:51.160 But the groom has all the glory here. 00:05:52.399 --> 00:05:53.800 The groom has the glory. 00:05:53.800 --> 00:06:02.100 You know, we see in this initial section that there is real Israel language going on here. 00:06:02.220 --> 00:06:06.040 So the initial readers of this book would have been the people of Israel. 00:06:06.580 --> 00:06:11.080 And they would have quite easily seen this and thought of their God, Jehovah. 00:06:11.079 --> 00:06:22.500 We have, it mentioned, we have the mighty men of Israel, the daughters of Jerusalem, the daughters of Zion. 00:06:24.180 --> 00:06:29.219 And you know, this language used of silver, gold, purple, all these descriptions, these are in Isaiah 60, 00:06:29.339 --> 00:06:32.339 which Al read for us already, or he read part of it. 00:06:32.339 --> 00:06:36.919 And this is where the people of Israel, their minds would have gone to Isaiah 60, 00:06:37.060 --> 00:06:42.799 where it talks about the faithful remnant of Israel being glorified in a day to come. 00:06:43.099 --> 00:06:45.560 And they would have been thinking about that future time, 00:06:45.959 --> 00:06:49.739 where the faithful remnant of Israel will be glorified. 00:06:51.819 --> 00:06:53.939 Verse 19 of Isaiah 60 says, 00:06:53.939 --> 00:07:05.120 But you know, when we read this, in this day and age, we really see the Lord Jesus. 00:07:06.860 --> 00:07:10.480 Verse 6, it's mentioned myrrh and frankincense. 00:07:11.259 --> 00:07:14.800 Now, myrrh is mentioned four times in this short passage that we have read. 00:07:15.759 --> 00:07:17.860 Frankincense, well, it's mentioned three times. 00:07:19.399 --> 00:07:22.720 Myrrh, the most obvious one we think of with myrrh, 00:07:22.720 --> 00:07:24.880 was one of the gifts that the wise men brought. 00:07:25.080 --> 00:07:26.280 Same with frankincense. 00:07:27.060 --> 00:07:29.200 Myrrh was present at the Lord Jesus' birth. 00:07:30.520 --> 00:07:32.400 It was also present at his death. 00:07:32.480 --> 00:07:37.880 He was offered myrrh as a kind of sedative for his pain on the cross, 00:07:38.000 --> 00:07:39.020 which he refused. 00:07:39.560 --> 00:07:40.800 He did not dull his pain. 00:07:42.380 --> 00:07:44.240 And myrrh is also mentioned at his burial. 00:07:44.240 --> 00:07:48.740 It was used as an embalming agent for the smell of a dead body. 00:07:48.740 --> 00:07:52.980 So when we think of myrrh, we think of the Lord Jesus. 00:07:53.199 --> 00:07:54.160 Our minds go there. 00:07:55.220 --> 00:07:55.740 And also frankincense. 00:07:56.500 --> 00:08:00.060 Well, it was what the priests used to offer sacrifices, 00:08:00.740 --> 00:08:03.420 which is what the Lord Jesus was. 00:08:05.180 --> 00:08:07.960 You know, in more literal terms, this here is King Solomon. 00:08:08.680 --> 00:08:10.740 He is the literal son of David. 00:08:10.740 --> 00:08:15.040 Now, Jesus describes himself as such 00:08:15.040 --> 00:08:17.300 and is described by others in Matthew's gospel 00:08:17.300 --> 00:08:18.500 as the son of David. 00:08:19.620 --> 00:08:22.480 So our minds go to the Lord Jesus when we read here 00:08:22.480 --> 00:08:25.600 and his relationship to his church. 00:08:27.160 --> 00:08:28.819 You might be sitting there thinking, 00:08:28.980 --> 00:08:29.439 well, hold on. 00:08:29.480 --> 00:08:32.600 This doesn't sound like the stories you read of the Lord Jesus. 00:08:33.139 --> 00:08:35.299 This doesn't sound like what I've heard about him. 00:08:35.460 --> 00:08:36.620 Wasn't he the meek one? 00:08:36.620 --> 00:08:40.560 Wasn't he the one who didn't have a place to lay his head, 00:08:40.639 --> 00:08:41.840 never mind all these possessions? 00:08:43.039 --> 00:08:43.899 He suffered. 00:08:44.039 --> 00:08:44.639 He died. 00:08:46.159 --> 00:08:48.580 Well, this is the future that we see. 00:08:49.299 --> 00:08:51.000 Christ will return in glory, 00:08:51.159 --> 00:08:54.580 taking his bride, the church, to be with himself. 00:08:55.840 --> 00:08:58.379 This afternoon, please go and read Revelation 21. 00:08:59.120 --> 00:08:59.779 It's brilliant. 00:09:00.279 --> 00:09:03.220 All about that relationship with Christ and his bride. 00:09:03.220 --> 00:09:07.340 As we sit here today, we have the joy of this age 00:09:07.340 --> 00:09:08.519 that we look back, 00:09:08.940 --> 00:09:10.800 seeing that the Lord Jesus has come once. 00:09:11.360 --> 00:09:13.340 We can read all about that in the gospels, 00:09:13.420 --> 00:09:16.120 the stories of the Lord Jesus. 00:09:17.600 --> 00:09:21.160 He completed that salvation work when he came. 00:09:22.300 --> 00:09:25.019 But with the joy of this age is that we get to look forward 00:09:25.019 --> 00:09:27.800 and we get to see that he will come again, 00:09:27.980 --> 00:09:29.920 returning in the glory of the king, 00:09:29.919 --> 00:09:33.139 bringing us to himself. 00:09:33.939 --> 00:09:36.139 And then there will be eternal perfection. 00:09:37.779 --> 00:09:40.799 So the object of the glory in this passage is the groom, 00:09:42.139 --> 00:09:42.779 the Lord Jesus. 00:09:43.079 --> 00:09:44.620 Jesus has done it all. 00:09:45.959 --> 00:09:49.240 Jesus paid it all, all to him I owe. 00:09:49.879 --> 00:09:50.979 It's all for his glory. 00:09:52.099 --> 00:09:54.120 The bride here, the bride is brought along, 00:09:54.299 --> 00:09:57.299 protected, kept safe with the groom. 00:09:57.299 --> 00:10:03.539 That takes us to the beauty that we see of the bride. 00:10:06.459 --> 00:10:07.439 The phrase goes, 00:10:07.539 --> 00:10:09.199 beauty is in the eye of the beholder. 00:10:09.859 --> 00:10:11.620 That's true to a degree, isn't it? 00:10:11.659 --> 00:10:12.959 We all see things differently. 00:10:14.299 --> 00:10:19.299 But we get to see here what he says about his love. 00:10:20.740 --> 00:10:22.299 The bride is shown to be perfect, 00:10:22.299 --> 00:10:26.539 to be perfect, to be completely captivating to the groom. 00:10:27.299 --> 00:10:29.959 And just a note here that the language used here, 00:10:30.120 --> 00:10:32.339 this wasn't for the time that it was written, 00:10:32.459 --> 00:10:33.459 it wasn't inappropriate, 00:10:33.819 --> 00:10:35.559 it wasn't immoral, 00:10:35.740 --> 00:10:36.539 it wasn't unusual. 00:10:36.719 --> 00:10:40.059 This would have been common language used in this love poetry, 00:10:40.359 --> 00:10:41.979 in the culture that it was written. 00:10:42.679 --> 00:10:44.159 For us, it's a bit strange, 00:10:44.740 --> 00:10:46.059 but that's just the way that it is. 00:10:47.399 --> 00:10:48.699 You know, we see a few things in here, 00:10:48.759 --> 00:10:53.079 but first we see that the bride is absolutely flawless in his eyes. 00:10:53.080 --> 00:10:55.259 And this is bookended. 00:10:55.420 --> 00:10:58.360 So this is chapter 4, verse 1 through to verse 7. 00:10:58.620 --> 00:11:00.639 And it's bookended with that phrase, 00:11:00.800 --> 00:11:02.840 beautiful, my love. 00:11:05.180 --> 00:11:06.340 And as it goes through, 00:11:06.420 --> 00:11:09.620 it mentions seven parts of the body. 00:11:10.280 --> 00:11:15.160 Eyes, hair, teeth, lips, cheeks, neck, breasts. 00:11:15.159 --> 00:11:17.919 It works from top to bottom. 00:11:19.379 --> 00:11:21.500 You know, the phrasings are strange, 00:11:21.620 --> 00:11:23.319 the imagery used is a bit odd, 00:11:23.620 --> 00:11:25.379 but basically what it is saying is that 00:11:25.379 --> 00:11:27.860 each of these things is the best of the best. 00:11:28.719 --> 00:11:29.959 The best of the best. 00:11:32.319 --> 00:11:34.299 In the Bible, the number 7, 00:11:34.419 --> 00:11:36.819 it's often used to represent perfection. 00:11:37.719 --> 00:11:39.259 That is a common thing in the Bible, 00:11:39.379 --> 00:11:40.139 the number 7. 00:11:40.139 --> 00:11:43.059 And these seven things are basically saying 00:11:43.059 --> 00:11:45.379 that she is perfect in his eyes. 00:11:46.779 --> 00:11:48.860 And it's summed up at the end of verse 7 00:11:48.860 --> 00:11:49.500 where it says, 00:11:49.759 --> 00:11:51.639 there is no flaw in you. 00:11:53.439 --> 00:11:55.059 And this is lovely on its own 00:11:55.059 --> 00:11:56.980 if we just take it at face value. 00:11:57.620 --> 00:11:58.759 Words of affirmation. 00:11:58.879 --> 00:12:00.439 It's one of the love languages, isn't it? 00:12:00.799 --> 00:12:03.340 It's great to tell people how we feel about them. 00:12:03.819 --> 00:12:04.960 It's great to tell people 00:12:04.960 --> 00:12:07.000 and encourage them in that way. 00:12:07.000 --> 00:12:10.500 Not sure I would recommend quoting directly 00:12:10.500 --> 00:12:12.039 from this passage. 00:12:12.399 --> 00:12:13.799 I'm not sure how that would go. 00:12:14.500 --> 00:12:16.100 But words of affirmation are good. 00:12:17.940 --> 00:12:19.960 But the truth that we see from this passage 00:12:19.960 --> 00:12:24.620 is that we are seen as perfect in God's eyes. 00:12:25.799 --> 00:12:27.139 How wonderful is that? 00:12:28.600 --> 00:12:30.159 Well, how is that possible? 00:12:30.820 --> 00:12:32.139 And is it universal? 00:12:32.139 --> 00:12:35.519 Where in verse 6, again, 00:12:35.639 --> 00:12:37.100 we have these markers. 00:12:37.340 --> 00:12:38.299 We have the myrrh 00:12:38.299 --> 00:12:40.679 and frankincense mentioned. 00:12:42.740 --> 00:12:44.439 We've already talked about what they mean, 00:12:44.539 --> 00:12:45.100 but the myrrh, 00:12:45.179 --> 00:12:46.659 well, it takes us to the cross. 00:12:47.699 --> 00:12:49.819 That smell, the sweet bitterness, 00:12:50.759 --> 00:12:53.179 the sweet bitterness of Christ's suffering 00:12:53.179 --> 00:12:55.159 because it was so horrific 00:12:55.159 --> 00:12:57.779 and yet it did so much for us. 00:12:57.779 --> 00:13:01.139 And frankincense, 00:13:01.220 --> 00:13:03.279 well, that speaks as well. 00:13:03.339 --> 00:13:05.259 You know, that was actually a white substance 00:13:05.259 --> 00:13:07.899 and it speaks of the moral glory of Christ. 00:13:09.779 --> 00:13:10.879 His perfection. 00:13:14.139 --> 00:13:15.600 Christ Jesus' work, 00:13:15.679 --> 00:13:17.839 it allows us to be viewed in this way. 00:13:19.720 --> 00:13:21.699 We read about that in the Gospels, 00:13:21.799 --> 00:13:23.439 in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. 00:13:23.440 --> 00:13:25.780 And what the Lord Jesus did during his ministry, 00:13:27.340 --> 00:13:29.320 it allowed us to be seen 00:13:29.320 --> 00:13:31.020 that we have no flaw, 00:13:31.840 --> 00:13:33.500 that there is no flaw to be found 00:13:33.500 --> 00:13:34.700 if we are in him. 00:13:36.200 --> 00:13:37.040 Well, what does that mean? 00:13:37.100 --> 00:13:38.660 Well, we thought the Lord Jesus came 00:13:38.660 --> 00:13:39.480 and he was born. 00:13:40.580 --> 00:13:41.700 He lived his life. 00:13:42.540 --> 00:13:44.800 Unlike us, he never sinned. 00:13:44.880 --> 00:13:45.820 He was perfect. 00:13:46.020 --> 00:13:48.520 There was no blemish found in him. 00:13:48.620 --> 00:13:49.720 There was no flaw. 00:13:50.620 --> 00:13:52.320 The devil even tried to tempt him, 00:13:52.320 --> 00:13:53.500 but he refused. 00:13:56.440 --> 00:13:58.080 He had his ministry on earth 00:13:58.080 --> 00:13:59.220 where he did the miracles. 00:13:59.440 --> 00:14:00.640 We were thinking about some of them 00:14:00.640 --> 00:14:01.840 in the kids' talk. 00:14:02.700 --> 00:14:04.300 These miracles, they showed 00:14:04.300 --> 00:14:06.480 that who he said he was, 00:14:06.940 --> 00:14:08.180 God, was true. 00:14:08.640 --> 00:14:10.140 That's what his miracles proved. 00:14:12.040 --> 00:14:14.180 And he went all the way to the cross. 00:14:15.840 --> 00:14:17.040 Suffering and death, 00:14:17.760 --> 00:14:18.700 the weight of sin, 00:14:18.780 --> 00:14:20.140 the punishment that we deserve 00:14:20.140 --> 00:14:21.640 put upon him at that moment. 00:14:22.320 --> 00:14:24.980 Even though he did not deserve it, 00:14:25.280 --> 00:14:26.860 he took that for us 00:14:26.860 --> 00:14:28.300 in that moment on the cross. 00:14:29.640 --> 00:14:30.720 And he died. 00:14:32.180 --> 00:14:34.080 But that wasn't the end of the story, no. 00:14:34.280 --> 00:14:35.840 Christ rose again. 00:14:36.840 --> 00:14:38.860 And he witnessed to many different people, 00:14:39.500 --> 00:14:41.379 these people who were terrified, 00:14:42.060 --> 00:14:43.320 thinking that they had lost the one 00:14:43.320 --> 00:14:45.060 that they were following for many years. 00:14:45.059 --> 00:14:46.299 But you know, 00:14:46.359 --> 00:14:47.979 these people were so convinced 00:14:47.979 --> 00:14:49.079 by his resurrection 00:14:49.079 --> 00:14:50.199 that they went on 00:14:50.199 --> 00:14:51.439 to tell others, 00:14:51.579 --> 00:14:53.079 to tell anyone who would listen. 00:14:53.639 --> 00:14:55.139 And most of them were killed 00:14:55.139 --> 00:14:56.500 doing so. 00:14:59.000 --> 00:15:00.099 This is the gospel. 00:15:00.279 --> 00:15:01.699 This is the good news of Jesus. 00:15:01.700 --> 00:15:05.180 And if we accept these things, 00:15:05.240 --> 00:15:06.900 if we accept his offer, 00:15:07.240 --> 00:15:09.560 we accept the free gift of salvation, 00:15:10.560 --> 00:15:12.580 then he has made us perfect. 00:15:13.960 --> 00:15:15.759 When God looks upon us, 00:15:15.820 --> 00:15:17.240 he sees the perfect sacrifice 00:15:17.240 --> 00:15:19.480 of Christ. 00:15:20.240 --> 00:15:23.480 There is no blemish anymore. 00:15:23.480 --> 00:15:27.980 Let me read this from Ephesians 5. 00:15:28.200 --> 00:15:28.920 It's Paul. 00:15:29.039 --> 00:15:29.980 He's using the imagery 00:15:29.980 --> 00:15:32.379 of the husband and wife 00:15:32.379 --> 00:15:33.399 like we see here. 00:15:33.840 --> 00:15:35.019 I think this is worth reading. 00:15:35.580 --> 00:15:36.379 It's up on the screen. 00:15:36.480 --> 00:15:36.980 It's quite small, 00:15:37.080 --> 00:15:37.779 but I'll read it anyway. 00:15:38.300 --> 00:15:39.840 Husbands, love your wives 00:15:39.840 --> 00:15:42.240 just as Christ loved the church 00:15:42.240 --> 00:15:43.899 and gave himself up for her 00:15:43.899 --> 00:15:45.080 to make her holy, 00:15:46.000 --> 00:15:47.440 cleansing her by the washing 00:15:47.440 --> 00:15:49.360 with water through the word. 00:15:50.039 --> 00:15:51.840 And to present her to himself 00:15:51.840 --> 00:15:53.240 as a radiant church, 00:15:53.480 --> 00:15:55.080 without stain or wrinkle 00:15:55.080 --> 00:15:56.420 or any other blemish, 00:15:56.620 --> 00:15:58.300 but holy and blameless. 00:15:59.379 --> 00:16:00.180 In the same way, 00:16:00.279 --> 00:16:02.120 husbands ought to love their wives 00:16:02.120 --> 00:16:03.360 as their own bodies. 00:16:04.259 --> 00:16:06.080 He who loves his wife 00:16:06.080 --> 00:16:06.980 loves himself. 00:16:07.700 --> 00:16:08.300 After all, 00:16:08.379 --> 00:16:09.960 no one ever hated their own body, 00:16:10.320 --> 00:16:12.120 but they feed and care for their body, 00:16:12.420 --> 00:16:14.060 just as Christ does the church, 00:16:14.659 --> 00:16:16.960 for we are members of his body. 00:16:20.259 --> 00:16:22.180 Christ presents the church, 00:16:22.259 --> 00:16:23.460 his bride, to himself 00:16:23.460 --> 00:16:26.259 made perfect without stain, 00:16:26.519 --> 00:16:27.960 wrinkle or blemish. 00:16:29.639 --> 00:16:31.060 It's beautiful that, isn't it? 00:16:32.019 --> 00:16:32.320 But you know, 00:16:32.379 --> 00:16:33.180 just as an aside, 00:16:33.280 --> 00:16:34.720 there's a real challenge there 00:16:34.720 --> 00:16:35.960 for any husbands out there. 00:16:36.900 --> 00:16:37.900 Love your wives. 00:16:39.340 --> 00:16:40.360 Love your wives 00:16:40.360 --> 00:16:42.879 as Christ loved the church. 00:16:43.080 --> 00:16:43.920 And we just think about 00:16:43.920 --> 00:16:45.440 what Christ has done for us. 00:16:45.960 --> 00:16:47.259 So what a challenger is 00:16:47.259 --> 00:16:48.220 in there for husbands 00:16:48.220 --> 00:16:49.440 to love their wives 00:16:49.440 --> 00:16:51.480 as much as that. 00:16:53.800 --> 00:16:55.320 And that takes us to 00:16:55.320 --> 00:16:56.240 the perfection 00:16:56.240 --> 00:16:58.920 of this marriage. 00:17:00.040 --> 00:17:02.340 The perfection of this marriage. 00:17:03.080 --> 00:17:04.039 So what's the main part 00:17:04.039 --> 00:17:05.680 of a wedding day? 00:17:06.700 --> 00:17:07.620 You've got a lot of stuff 00:17:07.620 --> 00:17:08.500 going along, 00:17:08.900 --> 00:17:09.279 you know, 00:17:09.339 --> 00:17:09.660 before, 00:17:10.000 --> 00:17:10.299 after, 00:17:10.460 --> 00:17:10.720 during. 00:17:11.400 --> 00:17:12.259 There's a lot of dancing, 00:17:12.440 --> 00:17:13.259 there's a lot of food 00:17:13.259 --> 00:17:14.160 when the bacon rolls 00:17:14.160 --> 00:17:14.839 come out about 00:17:14.839 --> 00:17:15.379 half nine, 00:17:15.459 --> 00:17:15.899 ten o'clock. 00:17:16.000 --> 00:17:16.839 That's always a highlight 00:17:16.839 --> 00:17:17.319 for me. 00:17:18.279 --> 00:17:18.559 But you know, 00:17:18.619 --> 00:17:19.220 the main part 00:17:19.220 --> 00:17:19.980 of the wedding day 00:17:19.980 --> 00:17:21.039 is the marriage. 00:17:21.439 --> 00:17:22.539 Because without it, 00:17:22.919 --> 00:17:23.859 it's just a party 00:17:23.859 --> 00:17:25.099 or it's just a feast 00:17:25.099 --> 00:17:26.619 or it's just a gathering 00:17:26.619 --> 00:17:27.240 of people. 00:17:28.399 --> 00:17:29.899 It should be the main part 00:17:29.899 --> 00:17:30.839 of the wedding day. 00:17:33.599 --> 00:17:34.819 So here we have it. 00:17:35.480 --> 00:17:36.199 The marriage. 00:17:37.139 --> 00:17:38.139 And we see in here 00:17:38.139 --> 00:17:38.899 that the bride 00:17:38.899 --> 00:17:40.539 is cared for. 00:17:40.839 --> 00:17:41.419 We're going to see 00:17:41.419 --> 00:17:42.279 various things 00:17:42.279 --> 00:17:42.980 about the bride 00:17:42.980 --> 00:17:43.779 in this section. 00:17:45.500 --> 00:17:45.700 Now, 00:17:46.460 --> 00:17:47.360 my bride is 00:17:47.360 --> 00:17:48.420 in 4 verse, 00:17:49.380 --> 00:17:50.480 in chapter 4, 00:17:51.039 --> 00:17:52.779 verse 9, 00:17:53.360 --> 00:17:54.120 it is repeated, 00:17:54.599 --> 00:17:54.839 sorry, 00:17:54.940 --> 00:17:55.480 from verse 8. 00:17:56.220 --> 00:17:57.620 From 4 verse 8 00:17:57.620 --> 00:17:58.759 down to 5 verse 1, 00:17:58.839 --> 00:17:59.920 my bride is repeated 00:17:59.920 --> 00:18:00.920 six times. 00:18:01.740 --> 00:18:02.940 We have that real sense 00:18:02.940 --> 00:18:04.059 of belonging there. 00:18:05.019 --> 00:18:05.220 You know, 00:18:05.299 --> 00:18:05.880 the Shulamite, 00:18:05.940 --> 00:18:07.140 this is the Shulamite woman 00:18:07.140 --> 00:18:08.259 it's mentioned earlier. 00:18:09.099 --> 00:18:09.299 You know, 00:18:09.299 --> 00:18:09.839 that is actually 00:18:09.839 --> 00:18:11.000 the female form 00:18:11.000 --> 00:18:12.519 of the word Solomon. 00:18:13.779 --> 00:18:14.700 She already 00:18:14.700 --> 00:18:15.559 has his name. 00:18:16.019 --> 00:18:16.779 And we have the tradition 00:18:16.779 --> 00:18:18.740 nowadays of the bride 00:18:18.740 --> 00:18:19.440 tends to take 00:18:19.440 --> 00:18:21.240 the groom's second name. 00:18:21.339 --> 00:18:21.980 That is common. 00:18:22.519 --> 00:18:22.759 You know, 00:18:22.799 --> 00:18:23.680 she already had 00:18:23.680 --> 00:18:24.880 his name already. 00:18:26.400 --> 00:18:27.360 But there's a real sense 00:18:27.360 --> 00:18:28.460 of belonging here, 00:18:28.579 --> 00:18:29.559 this my bride, 00:18:29.720 --> 00:18:30.319 my bride, 00:18:30.420 --> 00:18:31.079 my sister, 00:18:31.220 --> 00:18:31.660 my heart. 00:18:31.740 --> 00:18:32.860 There's the my language 00:18:32.860 --> 00:18:33.640 going on there. 00:18:34.460 --> 00:18:35.420 And this isn't a sort 00:18:35.420 --> 00:18:36.500 of possessive thing, 00:18:36.500 --> 00:18:37.400 but it is a sense 00:18:37.400 --> 00:18:38.160 of belonging. 00:18:39.180 --> 00:18:40.140 And with that belonging, 00:18:40.299 --> 00:18:41.400 it brings protection. 00:18:41.400 --> 00:18:43.600 In verse 8, 00:18:43.680 --> 00:18:44.860 we have these desolate, 00:18:45.120 --> 00:18:45.600 high up, 00:18:45.840 --> 00:18:46.860 dangerous places. 00:18:47.380 --> 00:18:48.759 We have the wild animals. 00:18:49.259 --> 00:18:50.080 And what it is saying 00:18:50.080 --> 00:18:51.300 is that there is safety 00:18:51.300 --> 00:18:52.640 with the groom. 00:18:53.560 --> 00:18:54.720 We also saw that 00:18:54.720 --> 00:18:55.620 in the procession 00:18:55.620 --> 00:18:56.380 in chapter 3, 00:18:56.440 --> 00:18:57.000 verse 7, 00:18:57.000 --> 00:18:58.160 where we had these 00:18:58.160 --> 00:18:59.420 mighty men of Israel 00:18:59.420 --> 00:19:01.400 protecting the bride. 00:19:02.880 --> 00:19:04.160 If we are in Christ, 00:19:04.240 --> 00:19:04.960 then we have that 00:19:04.960 --> 00:19:06.240 protection in him. 00:19:07.240 --> 00:19:07.440 Now, 00:19:07.460 --> 00:19:08.340 it is not a physical 00:19:08.340 --> 00:19:08.880 protection. 00:19:08.880 --> 00:19:09.420 It doesn't mean 00:19:09.420 --> 00:19:10.040 that life's going 00:19:10.040 --> 00:19:10.720 to be rosy 00:19:10.720 --> 00:19:11.260 and sunshine 00:19:11.260 --> 00:19:12.040 and rainbows, 00:19:12.280 --> 00:19:13.140 but it means 00:19:13.140 --> 00:19:14.400 that our salvation 00:19:14.400 --> 00:19:15.260 is secure. 00:19:16.040 --> 00:19:16.940 If we have accepted 00:19:16.940 --> 00:19:17.360 him, 00:19:17.440 --> 00:19:18.200 then no one, 00:19:18.700 --> 00:19:19.780 nothing can take us 00:19:19.780 --> 00:19:20.640 from his hand. 00:19:21.500 --> 00:19:22.800 We are cared for. 00:19:26.520 --> 00:19:27.900 We will never be lost 00:19:27.900 --> 00:19:29.120 because he is mighty. 00:19:31.960 --> 00:19:32.440 Secondly, 00:19:32.560 --> 00:19:33.320 in this perfection 00:19:33.320 --> 00:19:33.840 of the marriage, 00:19:33.920 --> 00:19:34.640 we see that the bride 00:19:34.640 --> 00:19:35.860 is captivating. 00:19:36.380 --> 00:19:36.940 The groom is 00:19:36.940 --> 00:19:38.180 absolutely smitten 00:19:38.180 --> 00:19:38.880 and he says, 00:19:38.980 --> 00:19:39.840 how much better 00:19:39.840 --> 00:19:40.799 is your love 00:19:40.799 --> 00:19:41.980 than wine? 00:19:43.000 --> 00:19:43.200 Now, 00:19:43.240 --> 00:19:43.799 this is repeated 00:19:43.799 --> 00:19:44.860 from chapter 1, 00:19:44.960 --> 00:19:45.500 verse 2, 00:19:45.600 --> 00:19:46.360 where she says 00:19:46.360 --> 00:19:47.120 this about him. 00:19:47.940 --> 00:19:48.180 So, 00:19:48.259 --> 00:19:49.080 this is a reciprocal 00:19:49.080 --> 00:19:49.559 love. 00:19:49.680 --> 00:19:50.460 This is a shared 00:19:50.460 --> 00:19:51.140 sentiment 00:19:51.140 --> 00:19:52.620 and they are rejoicing 00:19:52.620 --> 00:19:53.240 in the fact 00:19:53.240 --> 00:19:54.000 that they love 00:19:54.000 --> 00:19:54.559 one another. 00:19:56.200 --> 00:19:56.980 And interestingly, 00:19:57.180 --> 00:19:58.240 in this section here, 00:19:58.380 --> 00:19:59.279 we are moving away 00:19:59.279 --> 00:19:59.920 from the physical. 00:20:00.759 --> 00:20:00.920 So, 00:20:00.980 --> 00:20:01.900 in the previous section, 00:20:02.000 --> 00:20:02.620 we had all these 00:20:02.620 --> 00:20:03.860 physical body parts 00:20:03.860 --> 00:20:05.039 that he just saw 00:20:05.039 --> 00:20:06.039 no flaw in her. 00:20:06.039 --> 00:20:07.819 but here we move 00:20:07.819 --> 00:20:09.559 to who she is. 00:20:11.180 --> 00:20:12.000 We have the 00:20:12.000 --> 00:20:13.359 my heart language. 00:20:13.639 --> 00:20:14.619 This speaks of 00:20:14.619 --> 00:20:15.599 her inner being. 00:20:16.619 --> 00:20:17.879 We have the lips 00:20:17.879 --> 00:20:18.460 and tongue. 00:20:18.599 --> 00:20:19.159 That talks about 00:20:19.159 --> 00:20:19.960 her speech, 00:20:20.059 --> 00:20:20.659 what comes out 00:20:20.659 --> 00:20:21.359 of her mouth. 00:20:22.759 --> 00:20:23.659 And we have 00:20:23.659 --> 00:20:24.399 her garments 00:20:24.399 --> 00:20:25.099 mentioned. 00:20:25.659 --> 00:20:25.799 Now, 00:20:25.859 --> 00:20:26.559 garments often 00:20:26.559 --> 00:20:27.159 represent 00:20:27.159 --> 00:20:28.460 someone's character, 00:20:29.519 --> 00:20:30.180 who they are. 00:20:31.980 --> 00:20:32.960 The bride is 00:20:32.960 --> 00:20:33.899 captivating 00:20:33.899 --> 00:20:34.680 to him. 00:20:36.039 --> 00:20:36.599 And if we are 00:20:36.599 --> 00:20:37.359 Christ's bride, 00:20:37.460 --> 00:20:37.819 then we are 00:20:37.819 --> 00:20:38.099 to have 00:20:38.099 --> 00:20:39.259 seasoned speech, 00:20:40.099 --> 00:20:41.180 good character, 00:20:42.240 --> 00:20:42.899 so that we are 00:20:42.899 --> 00:20:43.940 pleasing to him. 00:20:45.539 --> 00:20:46.539 Christ in his work 00:20:46.539 --> 00:20:47.119 has made us 00:20:47.119 --> 00:20:47.720 perfect. 00:20:48.700 --> 00:20:49.299 The church, 00:20:49.379 --> 00:20:50.099 it is entirely 00:20:50.099 --> 00:20:51.819 for his pleasure. 00:20:52.279 --> 00:20:52.899 It's not for 00:20:52.899 --> 00:20:53.819 our pleasure 00:20:53.819 --> 00:20:54.299 that we have 00:20:54.299 --> 00:20:54.899 been saved. 00:20:55.500 --> 00:20:56.639 It is for his. 00:20:58.099 --> 00:20:58.579 So, 00:20:58.639 --> 00:20:59.119 the church 00:20:59.119 --> 00:20:59.759 is to bring 00:20:59.759 --> 00:21:00.579 Christ joy, 00:21:00.680 --> 00:21:01.319 and it does. 00:21:01.319 --> 00:21:03.839 this is only 00:21:03.839 --> 00:21:04.659 possible because 00:21:04.659 --> 00:21:05.519 of verse 15, 00:21:05.599 --> 00:21:06.220 it talks about 00:21:06.220 --> 00:21:07.019 living water 00:21:07.019 --> 00:21:07.879 and streams 00:21:07.879 --> 00:21:08.419 flowing. 00:21:08.539 --> 00:21:08.659 Now, 00:21:08.679 --> 00:21:09.200 that's having 00:21:09.200 --> 00:21:10.059 hinting at 00:21:10.059 --> 00:21:10.939 the Holy Spirit. 00:21:11.759 --> 00:21:12.659 The Holy Spirit 00:21:12.659 --> 00:21:13.359 in the church 00:21:13.359 --> 00:21:14.339 allows us 00:21:14.339 --> 00:21:16.460 to please him. 00:21:18.779 --> 00:21:19.939 In the day-to-day 00:21:19.939 --> 00:21:20.859 when we do things 00:21:20.859 --> 00:21:21.619 for Christ, 00:21:21.720 --> 00:21:22.960 he delights in us. 00:21:24.099 --> 00:21:24.759 And we should 00:21:24.759 --> 00:21:25.779 want to please him 00:21:25.779 --> 00:21:26.399 because of all 00:21:26.399 --> 00:21:27.179 that he has done 00:21:27.179 --> 00:21:28.519 for us. 00:21:28.519 --> 00:21:31.180 And you know, 00:21:31.240 --> 00:21:32.139 we're still imperfect. 00:21:33.079 --> 00:21:33.960 We mess up, 00:21:34.039 --> 00:21:34.400 don't we? 00:21:35.319 --> 00:21:36.039 We are not 00:21:36.039 --> 00:21:36.500 how he would 00:21:36.500 --> 00:21:37.680 like us to be. 00:21:39.299 --> 00:21:39.740 But you know, 00:21:39.799 --> 00:21:40.619 he will return 00:21:40.619 --> 00:21:41.539 triumphantly 00:21:41.539 --> 00:21:42.839 in that day-to-come, 00:21:43.920 --> 00:21:45.299 and eternally 00:21:45.299 --> 00:21:46.339 we will please him. 00:21:47.400 --> 00:21:48.359 Revelation 19, 00:21:48.619 --> 00:21:49.299 7-9 00:21:49.299 --> 00:21:50.000 says this. 00:21:50.139 --> 00:21:50.579 Once again, 00:21:50.619 --> 00:21:51.359 it's pretty small, 00:21:51.359 --> 00:21:52.240 but I will read it. 00:21:52.940 --> 00:21:53.519 Let us rejoice 00:21:53.519 --> 00:21:54.220 and be glad 00:21:54.220 --> 00:21:55.440 and give him glory, 00:21:55.720 --> 00:21:56.619 for the wedding 00:21:56.619 --> 00:21:57.299 of the Lamb 00:21:57.299 --> 00:21:58.000 has come, 00:21:58.000 --> 00:21:59.220 and his bride 00:21:59.220 --> 00:22:00.259 has made herself 00:22:00.259 --> 00:22:00.740 ready. 00:22:01.420 --> 00:22:02.059 Fine linen, 00:22:02.259 --> 00:22:03.059 bright and clean, 00:22:03.160 --> 00:22:03.839 was given her 00:22:03.839 --> 00:22:04.339 to wear. 00:22:05.200 --> 00:22:05.920 Fine linen 00:22:05.920 --> 00:22:06.900 stands for the 00:22:06.900 --> 00:22:07.839 righteous acts 00:22:07.839 --> 00:22:08.619 of God's 00:22:08.619 --> 00:22:09.559 holy people. 00:22:10.680 --> 00:22:11.200 Then the angel 00:22:11.200 --> 00:22:11.759 said to me, 00:22:11.839 --> 00:22:12.339 write this, 00:22:12.460 --> 00:22:13.240 blessed are those 00:22:13.240 --> 00:22:13.880 who are invited 00:22:13.880 --> 00:22:14.539 to the wedding 00:22:14.539 --> 00:22:15.579 supper of the Lamb. 00:22:16.579 --> 00:22:17.200 And he added, 00:22:17.339 --> 00:22:17.859 these are the 00:22:17.859 --> 00:22:18.680 true words 00:22:18.680 --> 00:22:19.579 of God. 00:22:20.920 --> 00:22:21.859 So the righteous 00:22:21.859 --> 00:22:22.779 acts of God's 00:22:22.779 --> 00:22:23.539 holy people 00:22:23.539 --> 00:22:25.240 please him. 00:22:25.240 --> 00:22:27.839 thirdly, 00:22:27.859 --> 00:22:28.279 we see that 00:22:28.279 --> 00:22:28.779 the bride 00:22:28.779 --> 00:22:30.319 is celebrated. 00:22:32.319 --> 00:22:33.059 Garden is 00:22:33.059 --> 00:22:33.460 mentioned 00:22:33.460 --> 00:22:34.579 from verse 12 00:22:34.579 --> 00:22:35.620 to the end 00:22:35.620 --> 00:22:37.220 five times. 00:22:38.599 --> 00:22:38.900 Garden 00:22:38.900 --> 00:22:39.779 often spoke 00:22:39.779 --> 00:22:40.640 of sexuality 00:22:40.640 --> 00:22:41.660 in the ancient 00:22:41.660 --> 00:22:42.319 Near East. 00:22:43.279 --> 00:22:43.980 And our thoughts 00:22:43.980 --> 00:22:44.299 as we, 00:22:44.759 --> 00:22:45.660 certainly my thoughts 00:22:45.660 --> 00:22:46.319 when we see this 00:22:46.319 --> 00:22:47.279 language and we see 00:22:47.279 --> 00:22:48.180 garden mentioned 00:22:48.180 --> 00:22:48.880 again and again, 00:22:48.960 --> 00:22:49.539 we go to the 00:22:49.539 --> 00:22:50.180 Garden of Eden, 00:22:50.299 --> 00:22:50.720 don't we? 00:22:50.720 --> 00:22:52.120 that famous 00:22:52.120 --> 00:22:52.600 garden. 00:22:54.839 --> 00:22:55.700 That garden 00:22:55.700 --> 00:22:56.620 where it was 00:22:56.620 --> 00:22:57.620 a perfect place. 00:22:58.620 --> 00:22:59.160 You had man 00:22:59.160 --> 00:22:59.559 and woman 00:22:59.559 --> 00:23:00.140 living in 00:23:00.140 --> 00:23:01.180 complete harmony 00:23:01.180 --> 00:23:02.819 as well as 00:23:02.819 --> 00:23:03.480 with the animals 00:23:03.480 --> 00:23:04.420 and creation 00:23:04.420 --> 00:23:05.079 itself. 00:23:07.579 --> 00:23:08.120 You know, 00:23:08.180 --> 00:23:08.720 what do we see 00:23:08.720 --> 00:23:09.980 in this section? 00:23:10.220 --> 00:23:10.460 Well, 00:23:10.980 --> 00:23:11.480 the garden 00:23:11.480 --> 00:23:12.240 is described 00:23:12.240 --> 00:23:13.400 as being locked 00:23:13.400 --> 00:23:14.740 twice 00:23:14.740 --> 00:23:15.440 and it is said 00:23:15.440 --> 00:23:16.220 it is sealed. 00:23:18.480 --> 00:23:19.240 What this is 00:23:19.240 --> 00:23:19.740 getting at 00:23:19.740 --> 00:23:20.279 is that she 00:23:20.279 --> 00:23:21.099 has kept 00:23:21.099 --> 00:23:21.680 herself 00:23:21.680 --> 00:23:22.380 for her 00:23:22.380 --> 00:23:22.759 husband. 00:23:24.099 --> 00:23:24.559 She has 00:23:24.559 --> 00:23:24.920 been 00:23:24.920 --> 00:23:25.940 locked. 00:23:26.920 --> 00:23:27.599 The groom 00:23:27.599 --> 00:23:28.059 here is 00:23:28.059 --> 00:23:28.559 actually 00:23:28.559 --> 00:23:29.480 celebrating 00:23:29.480 --> 00:23:30.620 her virginity. 00:23:32.279 --> 00:23:33.240 These locked 00:23:33.240 --> 00:23:33.880 pleasures 00:23:33.880 --> 00:23:34.980 which it 00:23:34.980 --> 00:23:35.539 describes. 00:23:37.200 --> 00:23:37.539 And this 00:23:37.539 --> 00:23:38.259 is counter 00:23:38.259 --> 00:23:38.799 cultural, 00:23:38.960 --> 00:23:39.279 isn't it? 00:23:40.000 --> 00:23:40.339 Graham, 00:23:40.480 --> 00:23:40.740 helpfully, 00:23:40.799 --> 00:23:41.160 over the last 00:23:41.160 --> 00:23:41.640 couple of weeks 00:23:41.640 --> 00:23:42.059 he's been 00:23:42.059 --> 00:23:42.579 highlighting 00:23:42.579 --> 00:23:43.140 some of the 00:23:43.140 --> 00:23:43.640 lies that 00:23:43.640 --> 00:23:44.279 culture might 00:23:44.279 --> 00:23:44.940 try to tell 00:23:44.940 --> 00:23:45.240 us. 00:23:45.819 --> 00:23:46.420 And we have 00:23:46.420 --> 00:23:46.920 one here. 00:23:48.759 --> 00:23:48.980 You know, 00:23:49.019 --> 00:23:49.420 in our world 00:23:49.420 --> 00:23:50.019 today people 00:23:50.019 --> 00:23:50.440 would say, 00:23:50.600 --> 00:23:50.779 well, 00:23:51.340 --> 00:23:51.580 you know, 00:23:51.640 --> 00:23:52.340 before marriage 00:23:52.340 --> 00:23:52.779 surely you 00:23:52.779 --> 00:23:53.180 want to live 00:23:53.180 --> 00:23:53.400 with them 00:23:53.400 --> 00:23:53.680 first. 00:23:53.759 --> 00:23:54.140 Just check 00:23:54.140 --> 00:23:56.160 who does 00:23:56.160 --> 00:23:56.539 the dishes 00:23:56.539 --> 00:23:57.000 and does 00:23:57.000 --> 00:23:57.380 it work 00:23:57.380 --> 00:23:57.580 and all 00:23:57.580 --> 00:23:57.840 that kind 00:23:57.840 --> 00:23:58.200 of stuff. 00:23:58.900 --> 00:23:59.360 Surely you 00:23:59.360 --> 00:23:59.680 want to have 00:23:59.680 --> 00:24:00.360 sex first 00:24:00.360 --> 00:24:00.860 just to make 00:24:00.860 --> 00:24:01.279 sure that 00:24:01.279 --> 00:24:01.620 on that 00:24:01.620 --> 00:24:02.000 level 00:24:02.000 --> 00:24:02.740 everything's 00:24:02.740 --> 00:24:03.100 okay. 00:24:03.880 --> 00:24:04.360 We live 00:24:04.360 --> 00:24:04.640 in a 00:24:04.640 --> 00:24:05.259 sexualized 00:24:05.259 --> 00:24:05.740 culture, 00:24:05.860 --> 00:24:06.240 don't we? 00:24:07.480 --> 00:24:07.660 I was 00:24:07.660 --> 00:24:08.140 speaking to 00:24:08.140 --> 00:24:08.940 Pete on 00:24:08.940 --> 00:24:09.320 Thursday and 00:24:09.320 --> 00:24:09.539 he was 00:24:09.539 --> 00:24:09.880 saying that 00:24:09.880 --> 00:24:10.180 he's in 00:24:10.180 --> 00:24:10.600 marketing 00:24:10.600 --> 00:24:11.000 and they 00:24:11.000 --> 00:24:11.279 try, 00:24:11.640 --> 00:24:11.840 you know, 00:24:11.900 --> 00:24:12.279 even in 00:24:12.279 --> 00:24:12.800 that world 00:24:12.800 --> 00:24:13.320 that people 00:24:13.320 --> 00:24:14.100 try to use 00:24:14.099 --> 00:24:14.719 sex to 00:24:14.719 --> 00:24:15.559 sell things. 00:24:15.939 --> 00:24:16.219 And we 00:24:16.219 --> 00:24:16.759 know that. 00:24:17.179 --> 00:24:17.639 Look at the 00:24:17.639 --> 00:24:18.259 adverts on 00:24:18.259 --> 00:24:18.639 TV. 00:24:22.079 --> 00:24:22.819 We live in 00:24:22.819 --> 00:24:23.559 a sexualized 00:24:23.559 --> 00:24:24.039 culture. 00:24:24.719 --> 00:24:25.319 People try to 00:24:25.319 --> 00:24:25.740 tell us, 00:24:25.819 --> 00:24:25.899 well, 00:24:25.959 --> 00:24:26.379 why would 00:24:26.379 --> 00:24:26.839 you wait? 00:24:27.619 --> 00:24:28.179 Surely you 00:24:28.179 --> 00:24:28.819 try it out 00:24:28.819 --> 00:24:29.459 before you 00:24:29.459 --> 00:24:29.740 buy. 00:24:32.000 --> 00:24:32.339 You know, 00:24:32.419 --> 00:24:33.259 God's design 00:24:33.259 --> 00:24:34.399 for relationships, 00:24:35.019 --> 00:24:35.919 for sex, 00:24:35.980 --> 00:24:36.659 and for marriage 00:24:36.659 --> 00:24:37.459 is completely 00:24:37.459 --> 00:24:38.000 different. 00:24:38.000 --> 00:24:42.339 Graham, 00:24:42.460 --> 00:24:43.119 he helpfully 00:24:43.119 --> 00:24:43.559 phrased 00:24:43.559 --> 00:24:44.000 wisdom 00:24:44.000 --> 00:24:44.559 literature 00:24:44.559 --> 00:24:45.500 right at 00:24:45.500 --> 00:24:46.059 the start 00:24:46.059 --> 00:24:46.579 a couple 00:24:46.579 --> 00:24:47.220 weeks ago 00:24:47.220 --> 00:24:48.119 as how 00:24:48.119 --> 00:24:48.779 to live 00:24:48.779 --> 00:24:49.720 in God's 00:24:49.720 --> 00:24:50.119 way, 00:24:51.019 --> 00:24:51.940 in God's 00:24:51.940 --> 00:24:52.480 world, 00:24:53.160 --> 00:24:54.019 for our 00:24:54.019 --> 00:24:55.599 good. 00:24:56.579 --> 00:24:57.220 We need 00:24:57.220 --> 00:24:57.640 to remember 00:24:57.640 --> 00:24:58.099 that this 00:24:58.099 --> 00:24:58.839 is God's 00:24:58.839 --> 00:24:59.259 world that 00:24:59.259 --> 00:24:59.680 we're living 00:24:59.680 --> 00:24:59.940 in. 00:25:01.079 --> 00:25:01.400 I think 00:25:01.400 --> 00:25:01.759 we sometimes, 00:25:01.839 --> 00:25:02.359 I sometimes 00:25:02.359 --> 00:25:02.839 forget that. 00:25:02.900 --> 00:25:03.140 We think 00:25:03.140 --> 00:25:03.839 this is our 00:25:03.839 --> 00:25:04.640 world to 00:25:04.640 --> 00:25:04.920 do what 00:25:04.920 --> 00:25:05.460 we want 00:25:05.460 --> 00:25:05.940 to do. 00:25:06.839 --> 00:25:06.980 But, 00:25:07.019 --> 00:25:07.119 you know, 00:25:07.160 --> 00:25:07.980 this is God's 00:25:07.980 --> 00:25:08.380 world, 00:25:09.200 --> 00:25:09.599 and he 00:25:09.599 --> 00:25:10.099 has designed 00:25:10.099 --> 00:25:10.579 things a 00:25:10.579 --> 00:25:11.380 certain way 00:25:11.380 --> 00:25:12.259 because he 00:25:12.259 --> 00:25:12.759 knows it 00:25:12.759 --> 00:25:13.360 is for 00:25:13.360 --> 00:25:14.259 our good. 00:25:15.259 --> 00:25:15.880 Surely the 00:25:15.880 --> 00:25:16.339 one who 00:25:16.339 --> 00:25:16.880 made it 00:25:16.880 --> 00:25:18.400 all knows 00:25:18.400 --> 00:25:18.759 what is 00:25:18.759 --> 00:25:20.099 best about 00:25:20.099 --> 00:25:20.740 everything, 00:25:21.420 --> 00:25:22.180 especially when 00:25:22.180 --> 00:25:22.720 it comes to 00:25:22.720 --> 00:25:23.480 things like 00:25:23.480 --> 00:25:24.460 relationships, 00:25:25.240 --> 00:25:25.660 marriage, 00:25:26.039 --> 00:25:26.819 and sex. 00:25:29.099 --> 00:25:29.900 God knows 00:25:29.900 --> 00:25:30.360 best, 00:25:30.420 --> 00:25:30.720 and I think 00:25:30.720 --> 00:25:31.200 that's sometimes 00:25:31.200 --> 00:25:31.740 a difficult 00:25:31.740 --> 00:25:32.599 concept for 00:25:32.599 --> 00:25:33.000 us to 00:25:33.000 --> 00:25:33.519 accept. 00:25:34.940 --> 00:25:35.259 I was 00:25:35.259 --> 00:25:35.620 thinking about 00:25:35.620 --> 00:25:35.880 this, 00:25:35.980 --> 00:25:36.960 and everyone 00:25:36.960 --> 00:25:37.799 loves Ikea, 00:25:37.980 --> 00:25:38.259 right? 00:25:39.380 --> 00:25:39.759 Ikea's 00:25:39.759 --> 00:25:40.019 great, 00:25:40.079 --> 00:25:40.400 isn't it? 00:25:41.559 --> 00:25:41.880 Now, 00:25:41.920 --> 00:25:42.160 if you've 00:25:42.160 --> 00:25:42.620 never bought 00:25:42.620 --> 00:25:43.059 something from 00:25:43.059 --> 00:25:43.799 Ikea before, 00:25:43.940 --> 00:25:44.299 or to be 00:25:44.299 --> 00:25:44.559 honest, 00:25:44.680 --> 00:25:45.279 even if you've 00:25:45.279 --> 00:25:45.700 bought many 00:25:45.700 --> 00:25:46.120 things from 00:25:46.120 --> 00:25:46.500 Ikea, 00:25:46.980 --> 00:25:47.920 they send you 00:25:47.920 --> 00:25:48.160 that, 00:25:48.240 --> 00:25:48.519 don't they, 00:25:48.539 --> 00:25:48.799 and it's 00:25:48.799 --> 00:25:49.559 flat-packed. 00:25:49.660 --> 00:25:50.160 That's the way 00:25:50.160 --> 00:25:50.640 that they go. 00:25:51.640 --> 00:25:51.860 Okay? 00:25:52.980 --> 00:25:53.200 Now, 00:25:53.240 --> 00:25:53.779 I'm a 00:25:53.779 --> 00:25:55.860 generalized man 00:25:55.860 --> 00:25:56.279 who doesn't 00:25:56.279 --> 00:25:56.880 really like 00:25:56.880 --> 00:25:57.319 following 00:25:57.319 --> 00:25:58.019 instructions. 00:25:58.660 --> 00:25:58.880 You know, 00:25:58.940 --> 00:25:59.759 I'm sure I 00:25:59.759 --> 00:26:00.140 could do it 00:26:00.140 --> 00:26:00.579 myself. 00:26:01.319 --> 00:26:01.480 But, 00:26:01.559 --> 00:26:01.620 you know, 00:26:01.640 --> 00:26:01.960 you get 00:26:01.960 --> 00:26:02.940 something fairly 00:26:02.940 --> 00:26:03.720 complex from 00:26:03.720 --> 00:26:04.140 Ikea, 00:26:04.140 --> 00:26:04.660 or even 00:26:04.660 --> 00:26:05.080 one of the 00:26:05.080 --> 00:26:05.600 more simple 00:26:05.600 --> 00:26:06.120 things, 00:26:06.920 --> 00:26:07.220 and you 00:26:07.220 --> 00:26:07.660 try and do 00:26:07.660 --> 00:26:08.259 that yourself, 00:26:08.380 --> 00:26:08.480 well, 00:26:08.540 --> 00:26:08.880 good luck 00:26:08.880 --> 00:26:09.240 to you. 00:26:09.500 --> 00:26:09.880 Tell you 00:26:09.880 --> 00:26:10.180 that for 00:26:10.180 --> 00:26:10.460 free. 00:26:11.200 --> 00:26:11.920 They send 00:26:11.920 --> 00:26:13.759 you an 00:26:13.759 --> 00:26:14.240 instruction 00:26:14.240 --> 00:26:14.680 manual, 00:26:14.780 --> 00:26:15.180 don't you? 00:26:15.480 --> 00:26:15.860 Don't they? 00:26:16.380 --> 00:26:17.100 The person 00:26:17.100 --> 00:26:17.880 who designed 00:26:17.880 --> 00:26:18.100 it, 00:26:18.180 --> 00:26:18.640 the person 00:26:18.640 --> 00:26:19.320 who built 00:26:19.320 --> 00:26:19.600 it, 00:26:19.980 --> 00:26:20.620 they send 00:26:20.620 --> 00:26:20.980 you this 00:26:20.980 --> 00:26:21.720 manual and 00:26:21.720 --> 00:26:21.940 go, 00:26:22.100 --> 00:26:22.280 look, 00:26:22.680 --> 00:26:23.420 this is how 00:26:23.420 --> 00:26:23.840 it works 00:26:23.840 --> 00:26:24.340 best. 00:26:24.600 --> 00:26:25.180 This is 00:26:25.180 --> 00:26:26.500 how to 00:26:26.500 --> 00:26:26.900 do it. 00:26:27.720 --> 00:26:28.160 And thank 00:26:28.160 --> 00:26:28.640 goodness, 00:26:30.320 --> 00:26:30.500 well, 00:26:30.500 --> 00:26:30.740 you know, 00:26:31.240 --> 00:26:31.920 it is similar 00:26:31.920 --> 00:26:32.400 but different 00:26:32.400 --> 00:26:32.920 with God. 00:26:33.259 --> 00:26:33.560 It's an 00:26:33.560 --> 00:26:33.960 imperfect 00:26:33.960 --> 00:26:34.480 picture, 00:26:34.600 --> 00:26:35.060 but God 00:26:35.060 --> 00:26:35.600 has designed 00:26:35.600 --> 00:26:36.180 this world. 00:26:36.740 --> 00:26:37.180 He's given 00:26:37.180 --> 00:26:37.960 us the gift 00:26:37.960 --> 00:26:38.560 of marriage, 00:26:38.660 --> 00:26:39.200 and it is a 00:26:39.200 --> 00:26:39.980 joy and a 00:26:39.980 --> 00:26:40.600 privilege. 00:26:41.240 --> 00:26:41.519 Sex, 00:26:41.640 --> 00:26:42.220 relationships, 00:26:42.460 --> 00:26:42.740 marriage, 00:26:42.840 --> 00:26:43.320 it is a 00:26:43.320 --> 00:26:43.600 gift, 00:26:43.700 --> 00:26:44.039 and it is 00:26:44.039 --> 00:26:44.480 good, 00:26:45.140 --> 00:26:45.680 but it is 00:26:45.680 --> 00:26:46.279 to be enjoyed 00:26:46.279 --> 00:26:46.880 in his 00:26:46.880 --> 00:26:47.759 way. 00:26:50.100 --> 00:26:50.700 So the 00:26:50.700 --> 00:26:51.160 bride is 00:26:51.160 --> 00:26:51.700 celebrated 00:26:51.700 --> 00:26:52.120 here. 00:26:53.440 --> 00:26:53.840 Lastly, 00:26:53.940 --> 00:26:54.279 we see that 00:26:54.279 --> 00:26:54.660 the bride 00:26:54.660 --> 00:26:55.440 is timely. 00:26:56.340 --> 00:26:56.480 You know, 00:26:56.500 --> 00:26:56.960 on a similar 00:26:56.960 --> 00:26:57.320 note, 00:26:57.980 --> 00:26:58.680 verse 16, 00:26:58.779 --> 00:26:59.320 the bride, 00:27:00.060 --> 00:27:00.519 she says, 00:27:00.600 --> 00:27:00.940 awake, 00:27:01.019 --> 00:27:01.680 O north wind, 00:27:01.680 --> 00:27:02.220 there's some 00:27:02.220 --> 00:27:02.700 interesting 00:27:02.700 --> 00:27:03.400 imagery there. 00:27:03.920 --> 00:27:04.299 And honestly, 00:27:04.400 --> 00:27:04.799 if you go and 00:27:04.799 --> 00:27:05.279 spend some 00:27:05.279 --> 00:27:05.920 time looking 00:27:05.920 --> 00:27:06.200 at the 00:27:06.200 --> 00:27:06.500 Song of 00:27:06.500 --> 00:27:06.960 Songs and 00:27:06.960 --> 00:27:07.240 all the 00:27:07.240 --> 00:27:08.440 different meanings 00:27:08.440 --> 00:27:09.080 you can find 00:27:09.080 --> 00:27:09.340 in it, 00:27:09.460 --> 00:27:10.160 you'd be there 00:27:10.160 --> 00:27:10.640 for hours, 00:27:10.740 --> 00:27:11.080 but it's been 00:27:11.080 --> 00:27:11.860 really enjoyable 00:27:11.860 --> 00:27:12.620 studying it 00:27:12.620 --> 00:27:13.019 these last 00:27:13.019 --> 00:27:13.560 few weeks. 00:27:14.420 --> 00:27:14.759 But he 00:27:14.759 --> 00:27:15.420 invites the 00:27:15.420 --> 00:27:15.860 groom to 00:27:15.860 --> 00:27:16.420 consummate 00:27:16.420 --> 00:27:17.060 their marriage, 00:27:17.200 --> 00:27:17.440 and he, 00:27:17.600 --> 00:27:19.299 in chapter 5, 00:27:19.360 --> 00:27:19.759 verse 1, 00:27:19.840 --> 00:27:20.480 he samples 00:27:20.480 --> 00:27:21.160 all that she 00:27:21.160 --> 00:27:21.860 has to offer. 00:27:22.880 --> 00:27:23.420 There's that 00:27:23.420 --> 00:27:24.320 my language, 00:27:24.440 --> 00:27:24.799 he says, 00:27:25.160 --> 00:27:25.720 my garden, 00:27:25.840 --> 00:27:26.240 my sister, 00:27:26.299 --> 00:27:26.480 he says, 00:27:26.560 --> 00:27:26.740 my, 00:27:26.900 --> 00:27:27.660 eight times 00:27:27.660 --> 00:27:28.440 in that verse. 00:27:30.320 --> 00:27:30.600 You know, 00:27:30.680 --> 00:27:31.240 throughout this 00:27:31.240 --> 00:27:31.960 book so far, 00:27:32.039 --> 00:27:32.779 in chapter 2, 00:27:32.859 --> 00:27:33.440 verse 7, 00:27:33.559 --> 00:27:34.400 and chapter 3, 00:27:34.480 --> 00:27:35.079 verse 5, 00:27:35.180 --> 00:27:35.620 which is the 00:27:35.620 --> 00:27:36.140 verse just 00:27:36.140 --> 00:27:36.599 before we 00:27:36.599 --> 00:27:37.259 started reading, 00:27:37.819 --> 00:27:38.319 the bride, 00:27:38.420 --> 00:27:38.740 she's been 00:27:38.740 --> 00:27:39.359 warning these 00:27:39.359 --> 00:27:40.220 others who 00:27:40.220 --> 00:27:40.960 are in this 00:27:40.960 --> 00:27:42.779 book, 00:27:43.400 --> 00:27:44.240 not to stir 00:27:44.240 --> 00:27:45.099 up love 00:27:45.099 --> 00:27:45.920 until it 00:27:45.920 --> 00:27:46.400 pleases. 00:27:47.180 --> 00:27:47.519 Now, 00:27:47.559 --> 00:27:47.960 what she's 00:27:47.960 --> 00:27:48.519 basically saying 00:27:48.519 --> 00:27:49.480 is be patient. 00:27:50.500 --> 00:27:51.140 Don't be 00:27:51.140 --> 00:27:52.240 hasty when 00:27:52.240 --> 00:27:52.819 it comes to 00:27:52.819 --> 00:27:53.480 these things. 00:27:54.480 --> 00:27:55.299 The right 00:27:55.299 --> 00:27:55.900 thing at the 00:27:55.900 --> 00:27:56.620 right time. 00:27:56.619 --> 00:27:59.000 this year, 00:27:59.099 --> 00:27:59.539 this is a 00:27:59.539 --> 00:28:00.459 celebration of 00:28:00.459 --> 00:28:01.179 God's good 00:28:01.179 --> 00:28:01.639 timing. 00:28:03.519 --> 00:28:04.039 Sex is 00:28:04.039 --> 00:28:04.639 worth waiting 00:28:04.639 --> 00:28:05.019 for. 00:28:05.819 --> 00:28:06.019 Now, 00:28:06.059 --> 00:28:06.399 if you're in 00:28:06.399 --> 00:28:07.000 that stage, 00:28:07.079 --> 00:28:07.500 maybe you're 00:28:07.500 --> 00:28:08.099 dating or 00:28:08.099 --> 00:28:08.519 you're waiting 00:28:08.519 --> 00:28:09.219 to be married 00:28:09.219 --> 00:28:09.579 or something 00:28:09.579 --> 00:28:10.000 like that, 00:28:10.239 --> 00:28:10.599 let me 00:28:10.599 --> 00:28:11.299 encourage you 00:28:11.299 --> 00:28:11.799 that it is 00:28:11.799 --> 00:28:12.339 God's good 00:28:12.339 --> 00:28:13.359 plan that 00:28:13.359 --> 00:28:13.879 these things 00:28:13.879 --> 00:28:14.319 are within 00:28:14.319 --> 00:28:14.979 the safety 00:28:14.979 --> 00:28:16.439 of marriage. 00:28:18.199 --> 00:28:18.899 There's no 00:28:18.899 --> 00:28:19.659 shame between 00:28:19.659 --> 00:28:21.019 the couple 00:28:21.019 --> 00:28:21.439 here, 00:28:21.440 --> 00:28:23.240 and then 00:28:23.240 --> 00:28:23.960 we once 00:28:23.960 --> 00:28:24.600 again see 00:28:24.600 --> 00:28:25.220 that Eden 00:28:25.220 --> 00:28:25.580 where there 00:28:25.580 --> 00:28:25.980 was no 00:28:25.980 --> 00:28:26.680 shame between 00:28:26.680 --> 00:28:27.220 Adam and 00:28:27.220 --> 00:28:27.920 Eve in 00:28:27.920 --> 00:28:28.500 God's good 00:28:28.500 --> 00:28:29.000 design. 00:28:31.460 --> 00:28:31.960 Now, 00:28:32.039 --> 00:28:32.519 as we close, 00:28:32.580 --> 00:28:32.980 I'd just like 00:28:32.980 --> 00:28:33.480 to address 00:28:33.480 --> 00:28:33.880 because, 00:28:34.299 --> 00:28:34.460 you know, 00:28:34.519 --> 00:28:34.960 maybe this 00:28:34.960 --> 00:28:35.880 dreamlike, 00:28:36.059 --> 00:28:36.620 perfect, 00:28:36.779 --> 00:28:37.320 Eden-type 00:28:37.320 --> 00:28:38.059 relationship, 00:28:38.600 --> 00:28:39.380 marriage and 00:28:39.380 --> 00:28:39.720 sex, 00:28:39.799 --> 00:28:39.900 well, 00:28:39.920 --> 00:28:40.340 that's not 00:28:40.340 --> 00:28:41.320 your experience. 00:28:42.380 --> 00:28:42.940 You know 00:28:42.940 --> 00:28:43.140 what? 00:28:43.160 --> 00:28:43.539 It's not 00:28:43.539 --> 00:28:44.059 anyone's 00:28:44.059 --> 00:28:44.820 experience. 00:28:46.600 --> 00:28:46.880 You know, 00:28:46.940 --> 00:28:48.759 maybe you've 00:28:48.759 --> 00:28:49.200 not waited 00:28:49.200 --> 00:28:49.900 for marriage. 00:28:50.600 --> 00:28:51.259 Maybe just 00:28:51.259 --> 00:28:51.940 talking about 00:28:51.940 --> 00:28:52.819 relationships, 00:28:53.000 --> 00:28:53.500 marriage and 00:28:53.500 --> 00:28:53.799 sex, 00:28:53.879 --> 00:28:54.539 just brings 00:28:54.539 --> 00:28:55.879 pain and 00:28:55.879 --> 00:28:56.299 regret. 00:28:57.740 --> 00:28:58.299 Maybe it's 00:28:58.299 --> 00:28:59.160 something difficult 00:28:59.160 --> 00:28:59.640 for you to 00:28:59.640 --> 00:29:00.160 hear about. 00:29:02.619 --> 00:29:02.920 You know, 00:29:02.940 --> 00:29:03.319 I don't want 00:29:03.319 --> 00:29:03.680 you to be 00:29:03.680 --> 00:29:04.259 sitting there 00:29:04.259 --> 00:29:05.200 feeling shame, 00:29:05.839 --> 00:29:06.039 guilt, 00:29:06.160 --> 00:29:06.599 embarrassment, 00:29:06.720 --> 00:29:07.140 or whatever 00:29:07.140 --> 00:29:07.700 it is that 00:29:07.700 --> 00:29:08.839 this subject 00:29:08.839 --> 00:29:09.599 brings up 00:29:09.599 --> 00:29:10.720 for you. 00:29:12.180 --> 00:29:12.759 Going back 00:29:12.759 --> 00:29:13.220 to the previous 00:29:13.220 --> 00:29:13.680 section, 00:29:13.779 --> 00:29:14.099 the bride, 00:29:14.200 --> 00:29:14.299 well, 00:29:14.339 --> 00:29:14.879 she is seen 00:29:14.879 --> 00:29:15.700 as flawless 00:29:15.700 --> 00:29:16.640 in his eyes, 00:29:17.079 --> 00:29:17.480 but let me 00:29:17.480 --> 00:29:18.039 tell you something, 00:29:18.160 --> 00:29:18.799 there is no way 00:29:18.799 --> 00:29:19.279 that she was 00:29:19.279 --> 00:29:19.619 flawless. 00:29:20.339 --> 00:29:20.859 No way. 00:29:21.259 --> 00:29:21.940 She was a 00:29:21.940 --> 00:29:22.460 person just 00:29:22.460 --> 00:29:22.900 like any 00:29:22.900 --> 00:29:23.140 other, 00:29:23.240 --> 00:29:23.559 so she 00:29:23.559 --> 00:29:24.220 was flawed. 00:29:26.920 --> 00:29:27.579 We are the 00:29:27.579 --> 00:29:27.940 same in 00:29:27.940 --> 00:29:28.519 Christ Jesus. 00:29:28.740 --> 00:29:29.200 We are not 00:29:29.200 --> 00:29:29.619 perfect, 00:29:29.680 --> 00:29:30.059 are we? 00:29:30.940 --> 00:29:31.480 We mess 00:29:31.480 --> 00:29:31.859 up. 00:29:33.460 --> 00:29:34.180 I mess 00:29:34.180 --> 00:29:34.500 up. 00:29:36.900 --> 00:29:37.460 But if we 00:29:37.460 --> 00:29:38.019 have accepted 00:29:38.019 --> 00:29:38.559 Christ, 00:29:38.640 --> 00:29:39.059 then we are 00:29:39.059 --> 00:29:39.599 made the 00:29:39.599 --> 00:29:40.059 same as 00:29:40.059 --> 00:29:40.740 she is here, 00:29:40.819 --> 00:29:41.140 where she 00:29:41.140 --> 00:29:41.680 is seen 00:29:41.680 --> 00:29:42.420 as flawless. 00:29:43.200 --> 00:29:43.759 We will 00:29:43.759 --> 00:29:44.259 never be 00:29:44.259 --> 00:29:44.859 good enough 00:29:44.859 --> 00:29:45.660 in life, 00:29:45.940 --> 00:29:46.440 but he 00:29:46.440 --> 00:29:46.839 is. 00:29:46.839 --> 00:29:49.019 all have 00:29:49.019 --> 00:29:49.500 sinned 00:29:49.500 --> 00:29:49.859 and fall 00:29:49.859 --> 00:29:50.379 short of 00:29:50.379 --> 00:29:50.759 the glory 00:29:50.759 --> 00:29:51.319 of God. 00:29:52.599 --> 00:29:52.899 Please 00:29:52.899 --> 00:29:53.279 don't feel 00:29:53.279 --> 00:29:53.859 alone in 00:29:53.859 --> 00:29:54.059 these 00:29:54.059 --> 00:29:54.539 things. 00:29:59.240 --> 00:30:00.000 When Christ 00:30:00.000 --> 00:30:00.500 looks on 00:30:00.500 --> 00:30:00.720 us, 00:30:00.779 --> 00:30:01.459 he sees 00:30:01.459 --> 00:30:02.720 not what 00:30:02.720 --> 00:30:03.099 we have 00:30:03.099 --> 00:30:03.399 done, 00:30:03.639 --> 00:30:04.019 but what 00:30:04.019 --> 00:30:04.559 he has 00:30:04.559 --> 00:30:04.819 done. 00:30:05.159 --> 00:30:05.519 We are 00:30:05.519 --> 00:30:05.919 seen as 00:30:05.919 --> 00:30:06.339 perfect. 00:30:07.519 --> 00:30:08.139 The hope 00:30:08.139 --> 00:30:08.379 of the 00:30:08.379 --> 00:30:08.740 gospel, 00:30:08.740 --> 00:30:09.259 it sets 00:30:09.259 --> 00:30:09.779 us free 00:30:09.779 --> 00:30:10.299 from that 00:30:10.299 --> 00:30:10.779 sin, 00:30:11.779 --> 00:30:12.939 that guilt, 00:30:13.099 --> 00:30:13.759 that shame 00:30:13.759 --> 00:30:14.059 that we 00:30:14.059 --> 00:30:14.519 feel. 00:30:14.519 --> 00:30:16.259 we are 00:30:16.259 --> 00:30:16.639 offered 00:30:16.639 --> 00:30:17.220 forgiveness. 00:30:19.799 --> 00:30:20.400 You know, 00:30:20.420 --> 00:30:20.779 in the world 00:30:20.779 --> 00:30:21.079 today, 00:30:21.180 --> 00:30:21.639 people might 00:30:21.639 --> 00:30:22.079 define 00:30:22.079 --> 00:30:22.639 themselves 00:30:22.639 --> 00:30:25.160 by their 00:30:25.160 --> 00:30:25.619 sexual 00:30:25.619 --> 00:30:26.480 identity or 00:30:26.480 --> 00:30:26.859 even their 00:30:26.859 --> 00:30:27.220 sexual 00:30:27.220 --> 00:30:27.779 activity. 00:30:28.400 --> 00:30:28.639 Our 00:30:28.639 --> 00:30:29.059 identity 00:30:29.059 --> 00:30:29.579 is in 00:30:29.579 --> 00:30:29.980 Christ. 00:30:32.839 --> 00:30:33.119 You know, 00:30:33.180 --> 00:30:33.599 maybe you're 00:30:33.599 --> 00:30:34.180 not on a 00:30:34.180 --> 00:30:34.599 different note, 00:30:34.639 --> 00:30:34.980 maybe you're 00:30:34.980 --> 00:30:35.420 not married 00:30:35.420 --> 00:30:35.859 at all. 00:30:36.400 --> 00:30:36.900 Maybe that's 00:30:36.900 --> 00:30:37.279 something you 00:30:37.279 --> 00:30:37.740 desire, 00:30:37.859 --> 00:30:38.099 but it 00:30:38.099 --> 00:30:38.379 hasn't 00:30:38.379 --> 00:30:38.740 happened 00:30:38.740 --> 00:30:38.980 yet. 00:30:39.660 --> 00:30:39.940 Maybe 00:30:39.940 --> 00:30:40.299 it's not 00:30:40.299 --> 00:30:40.660 happened 00:30:40.660 --> 00:30:41.359 at all 00:30:41.359 --> 00:30:41.799 for you. 00:30:42.740 --> 00:30:43.099 Or maybe 00:30:43.099 --> 00:30:43.619 your marriage 00:30:43.619 --> 00:30:44.039 is broken 00:30:44.039 --> 00:30:44.440 down, 00:30:44.519 --> 00:30:44.859 or it's 00:30:44.859 --> 00:30:45.240 ended 00:30:45.240 --> 00:30:45.839 for whatever 00:30:45.839 --> 00:30:46.259 reason. 00:30:47.200 --> 00:30:47.420 Well, 00:30:47.460 --> 00:30:47.799 marriage 00:30:47.799 --> 00:30:48.279 isn't our 00:30:48.279 --> 00:30:48.839 identity 00:30:48.839 --> 00:30:49.339 either. 00:30:50.319 --> 00:30:50.779 It's not 00:30:50.779 --> 00:30:51.519 a requirement. 00:30:52.599 --> 00:30:52.879 Paul, 00:30:52.980 --> 00:30:53.220 in his 00:30:53.220 --> 00:30:53.559 letters, 00:30:53.660 --> 00:30:54.079 he actually 00:30:54.079 --> 00:30:54.920 celebrates 00:30:54.920 --> 00:30:55.359 those who 00:30:55.359 --> 00:30:55.859 are single. 00:30:56.220 --> 00:30:57.019 He celebrates 00:30:57.019 --> 00:30:57.579 singleness 00:30:57.579 --> 00:30:58.400 and the 00:30:58.400 --> 00:30:59.079 opportunities 00:30:59.079 --> 00:30:59.819 it allows 00:30:59.819 --> 00:31:00.240 for the 00:31:00.240 --> 00:31:01.720 work of 00:31:01.720 --> 00:31:02.720 being able 00:31:02.720 --> 00:31:03.059 to do 00:31:03.059 --> 00:31:03.559 work for 00:31:03.559 --> 00:31:04.099 the Lord. 00:31:07.339 --> 00:31:07.839 You know, 00:31:07.900 --> 00:31:08.519 nowhere is it 00:31:08.519 --> 00:31:08.920 said that 00:31:08.920 --> 00:31:09.180 there will 00:31:09.180 --> 00:31:09.720 be marriage 00:31:09.720 --> 00:31:10.180 in heaven. 00:31:12.579 --> 00:31:13.319 And I'm 00:31:13.319 --> 00:31:13.680 sure there 00:31:13.680 --> 00:31:13.960 won't be. 00:31:13.960 --> 00:31:14.180 There will 00:31:14.180 --> 00:31:14.500 not be 00:31:14.500 --> 00:31:14.840 marriage 00:31:14.840 --> 00:31:15.120 in the 00:31:15.120 --> 00:31:15.500 same way 00:31:15.500 --> 00:31:15.779 that there 00:31:15.779 --> 00:31:16.200 is here. 00:31:16.980 --> 00:31:17.380 Now, 00:31:17.460 --> 00:31:17.700 why? 00:31:18.420 --> 00:31:18.799 Why will 00:31:18.799 --> 00:31:19.000 there not 00:31:19.000 --> 00:31:19.400 be marriage 00:31:19.400 --> 00:31:19.740 in heaven? 00:31:21.279 --> 00:31:21.640 Well, 00:31:21.700 --> 00:31:22.279 marriage on 00:31:22.279 --> 00:31:22.819 earth is 00:31:22.819 --> 00:31:23.259 just an 00:31:23.259 --> 00:31:23.720 imperfect 00:31:23.720 --> 00:31:25.299 picture of 00:31:25.299 --> 00:31:25.940 that marriage 00:31:25.940 --> 00:31:26.440 in the day 00:31:26.440 --> 00:31:26.920 to come 00:31:26.920 --> 00:31:27.700 between the 00:31:27.700 --> 00:31:28.220 Lord Jesus 00:31:28.220 --> 00:31:28.779 and his 00:31:28.779 --> 00:31:29.220 bride. 00:31:29.440 --> 00:31:29.819 So there 00:31:29.819 --> 00:31:30.240 will be no 00:31:30.240 --> 00:31:30.660 need for 00:31:30.660 --> 00:31:31.079 physical 00:31:31.079 --> 00:31:31.660 marriage 00:31:31.660 --> 00:31:33.440 because we 00:31:33.440 --> 00:31:33.819 will be in 00:31:33.819 --> 00:31:34.539 that perfect 00:31:34.539 --> 00:31:35.279 marriage with 00:31:35.279 --> 00:31:36.579 Christ as 00:31:36.579 --> 00:31:36.900 his 00:31:36.900 --> 00:31:37.480 believers. 00:31:39.840 --> 00:31:40.360 Marriage, 00:31:40.940 --> 00:31:41.700 relationships, 00:31:41.700 --> 00:31:41.799 relationships, 00:31:42.440 --> 00:31:42.779 or you 00:31:42.779 --> 00:31:43.200 know what, 00:31:43.240 --> 00:31:44.240 anything else 00:31:44.240 --> 00:31:45.240 in life. 00:31:45.700 --> 00:31:46.180 They do 00:31:46.180 --> 00:31:46.779 not complete 00:31:46.779 --> 00:31:47.160 us. 00:31:48.700 --> 00:31:49.140 Christ 00:31:49.140 --> 00:31:50.120 completes us 00:31:50.120 --> 00:31:50.900 and in 00:31:50.900 --> 00:31:51.440 Christ we 00:31:51.440 --> 00:31:52.080 lack nothing. 00:31:53.660 --> 00:31:54.019 And this 00:31:54.019 --> 00:31:54.539 isn't to say 00:31:54.539 --> 00:31:55.120 that we don't 00:31:55.120 --> 00:31:56.220 question things 00:31:56.220 --> 00:31:56.740 and that we 00:31:56.740 --> 00:31:57.779 find things 00:31:57.779 --> 00:31:58.340 painful, 00:31:58.740 --> 00:31:59.279 that we find 00:31:59.279 --> 00:32:00.039 things difficult, 00:32:00.160 --> 00:32:00.720 that things go 00:32:00.720 --> 00:32:01.000 wrong. 00:32:02.180 --> 00:32:03.120 That certainly 00:32:03.120 --> 00:32:03.680 is true. 00:32:03.680 --> 00:32:05.680 but our 00:32:05.680 --> 00:32:06.360 hope is in 00:32:06.360 --> 00:32:06.779 Christ. 00:32:08.660 --> 00:32:09.240 I'm very 00:32:09.240 --> 00:32:09.660 aware that 00:32:09.660 --> 00:32:10.120 these things 00:32:10.120 --> 00:32:10.620 are real, 00:32:10.700 --> 00:32:11.100 these things 00:32:11.100 --> 00:32:11.900 can be raw, 00:32:12.180 --> 00:32:12.640 they can be 00:32:12.640 --> 00:32:13.140 painful. 00:32:14.100 --> 00:32:14.700 So please 00:32:14.700 --> 00:32:15.720 come and chat 00:32:15.720 --> 00:32:16.380 to me after. 00:32:17.259 --> 00:32:17.799 I'd love to 00:32:17.799 --> 00:32:18.279 pray with you 00:32:18.279 --> 00:32:18.680 about these 00:32:18.680 --> 00:32:19.380 things or grab 00:32:19.380 --> 00:32:20.160 Al or grab 00:32:20.160 --> 00:32:20.960 someone in 00:32:20.960 --> 00:32:21.400 the church 00:32:21.400 --> 00:32:22.100 that you know 00:32:22.100 --> 00:32:22.460 and love 00:32:22.460 --> 00:32:23.019 and trust. 00:32:23.960 --> 00:32:24.420 It's great 00:32:24.420 --> 00:32:24.960 to be able to 00:32:24.960 --> 00:32:26.259 support and 00:32:26.259 --> 00:32:26.660 love one 00:32:26.660 --> 00:32:27.180 another in 00:32:27.180 --> 00:32:27.840 these things, 00:32:28.620 --> 00:32:28.980 in our 00:32:28.980 --> 00:32:29.580 difficulties, 00:32:29.799 --> 00:32:30.039 in our 00:32:30.039 --> 00:32:30.519 innermost 00:32:30.519 --> 00:32:31.200 turmoils, 00:32:31.320 --> 00:32:31.700 whether it's 00:32:31.700 --> 00:32:32.200 about this 00:32:32.200 --> 00:32:32.960 subject or 00:32:32.960 --> 00:32:34.680 anything else. 00:32:35.500 --> 00:32:36.039 So please 00:32:36.039 --> 00:32:37.640 do that. 00:32:38.519 --> 00:32:39.079 Let me just 00:32:39.079 --> 00:32:40.079 pray as the 00:32:40.079 --> 00:32:40.980 band comes up 00:32:40.980 --> 00:32:41.420 and we'll 00:32:41.420 --> 00:32:42.620 end our 00:32:42.620 --> 00:32:42.920 time. 00:32:46.920 --> 00:32:47.519 God and 00:32:47.519 --> 00:32:47.700 Father, 00:32:47.779 --> 00:32:48.220 I just thank 00:32:48.220 --> 00:32:48.740 you for 00:32:48.740 --> 00:32:49.340 your word. 00:32:51.779 --> 00:32:52.500 We thank 00:32:52.500 --> 00:32:53.059 you that we 00:32:53.059 --> 00:32:53.579 are in that 00:32:53.579 --> 00:32:54.600 blessed position 00:32:54.600 --> 00:32:55.700 of being able 00:32:55.700 --> 00:32:56.440 to read and 00:32:56.440 --> 00:32:57.400 know about 00:32:57.400 --> 00:32:57.759 the Lord 00:32:57.759 --> 00:32:58.380 Jesus and 00:32:58.380 --> 00:32:58.660 that he 00:32:58.660 --> 00:32:59.079 came. 00:33:00.660 --> 00:33:00.900 The 00:33:00.900 --> 00:33:01.319 suffering 00:33:01.319 --> 00:33:01.840 servant 00:33:01.840 --> 00:33:02.660 died for 00:33:02.660 --> 00:33:02.920 us. 00:33:02.960 --> 00:33:03.360 He took 00:33:03.360 --> 00:33:03.860 our sin 00:33:03.860 --> 00:33:04.140 upon 00:33:04.140 --> 00:33:04.640 himself. 00:33:06.019 --> 00:33:06.740 He took 00:33:06.740 --> 00:33:07.120 what we 00:33:07.120 --> 00:33:07.579 deserved. 00:33:10.500 --> 00:33:11.160 We thank 00:33:11.160 --> 00:33:11.440 you that 00:33:11.440 --> 00:33:11.960 that wasn't 00:33:11.960 --> 00:33:12.319 the end, 00:33:12.400 --> 00:33:12.579 that he 00:33:12.579 --> 00:33:12.880 died, 00:33:12.960 --> 00:33:13.180 but that 00:33:13.180 --> 00:33:13.660 he rose 00:33:13.660 --> 00:33:14.960 again and 00:33:14.960 --> 00:33:15.259 that we 00:33:15.259 --> 00:33:15.600 can have 00:33:15.600 --> 00:33:16.160 salvation 00:33:16.160 --> 00:33:16.740 in him, 00:33:17.960 --> 00:33:18.759 that we 00:33:18.759 --> 00:33:19.120 can be 00:33:19.120 --> 00:33:19.700 seen as 00:33:19.700 --> 00:33:21.380 flawless in 00:33:21.380 --> 00:33:21.960 your eyes 00:33:21.960 --> 00:33:22.500 because of 00:33:22.500 --> 00:33:22.920 the work 00:33:22.920 --> 00:33:23.200 of the 00:33:23.200 --> 00:33:23.420 Lord 00:33:23.420 --> 00:33:23.620 Jesus. 00:33:23.620 --> 00:33:24.940 Thank you 00:33:24.940 --> 00:33:27.319 so much 00:33:27.319 --> 00:33:27.620 for the 00:33:27.620 --> 00:33:28.059 truth of 00:33:28.059 --> 00:33:28.240 these 00:33:28.240 --> 00:33:28.620 things. 00:33:28.619 --> 00:33:29.619 God, 00:33:29.619 --> 00:33:30.899 we pray 00:33:30.899 --> 00:33:31.159 that you 00:33:31.159 --> 00:33:31.579 will help 00:33:31.579 --> 00:33:31.919 us in 00:33:31.919 --> 00:33:32.439 our lives 00:33:32.439 --> 00:33:33.059 to be 00:33:33.059 --> 00:33:33.859 witnesses 00:33:33.859 --> 00:33:34.899 of your 00:33:34.899 --> 00:33:35.359 things. 00:33:36.699 --> 00:33:37.319 Help us 00:33:37.319 --> 00:33:37.759 as well 00:33:37.759 --> 00:33:38.079 in the 00:33:38.079 --> 00:33:38.559 pain and 00:33:38.559 --> 00:33:38.979 when things 00:33:38.979 --> 00:33:39.459 go wrong. 00:33:40.299 --> 00:33:40.639 Pray that 00:33:40.639 --> 00:33:40.879 you will 00:33:40.879 --> 00:33:41.639 comfort us, 00:33:41.959 --> 00:33:42.179 that we 00:33:42.179 --> 00:33:43.099 will be 00:33:43.099 --> 00:33:43.500 there for 00:33:43.500 --> 00:33:44.000 one another 00:33:44.000 --> 00:33:45.619 and you 00:33:45.619 --> 00:33:46.099 will help 00:33:46.099 --> 00:33:46.519 us in 00:33:46.519 --> 00:33:47.079 this life. 00:33:48.359 --> 00:33:48.719 Help us 00:33:48.719 --> 00:33:49.179 to keep 00:33:49.179 --> 00:33:49.639 that 00:33:49.639 --> 00:33:51.579 mindset of 00:33:51.579 --> 00:33:53.019 looking on 00:33:53.019 --> 00:33:53.539 the life to 00:33:53.539 --> 00:33:54.599 come where 00:33:54.599 --> 00:33:54.879 we will 00:33:54.879 --> 00:33:55.399 eternally 00:33:55.399 --> 00:33:55.799 spend 00:33:55.799 --> 00:33:56.439 salvation 00:33:56.439 --> 00:33:57.819 with you 00:33:57.819 --> 00:33:59.279 and we 00:33:59.279 --> 00:33:59.719 will be in 00:33:59.719 --> 00:34:00.199 that place 00:34:00.199 --> 00:34:00.459 where there 00:34:00.459 --> 00:34:00.759 will be no 00:34:00.759 --> 00:34:01.299 more tears, 00:34:01.799 --> 00:34:02.019 where there 00:34:02.019 --> 00:34:02.319 will be no 00:34:02.319 --> 00:34:02.980 more suffering 00:34:02.980 --> 00:34:03.519 and things 00:34:03.519 --> 00:34:03.919 will be 00:34:03.919 --> 00:34:04.679 truly perfect. 00:34:06.759 --> 00:34:07.199 So we 00:34:07.199 --> 00:34:07.639 thank you for 00:34:07.639 --> 00:34:08.039 your word 00:34:08.039 --> 00:34:08.579 and ask your 00:34:08.579 --> 00:34:09.279 blessing on 00:34:09.279 --> 00:34:09.440 it. 00:34:10.500 --> 00:34:10.920 In Jesus' 00:34:11.059 --> 00:34:11.339 name we 00:34:11.339 --> 00:34:11.579 pray. 00:34:12.139 --> 00:34:12.420 Amen.