Learning to Love Wisely

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

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.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Thank you.