We just praise God that were able to have a conference this
year with the craziness that's going on in the world.
And as much as there are different, political opinions
about what's happening in America and across the nation's.
One thing is, for certain, we are experiencing a dress
rehearsal for the end times. You better believe it, and Jesus
said something to the religious leaders of his day.
He said, you know, you can tell when this summer is coming.
When you study the the Fig Tree, you see the leaves budding and,
you know, that the time is near. He's like, but you couldn't, you
couldn't tell you couldn't see the signs for the coming of the
Messiah, with all the prophecies and all the specific,
articulations concerning my arrival, to this earth, you
couldn't see it. And I believe in the same way
this generation is not interpreting the signs
correctly. And if they miss the first
coming don't you think that it's possible for believers to miss
the second? I think it's possible and that's
why we must be grounded in the word of God.
The grass withers, the flower Fades, but the word of our God
will stand forever. If you have your Bibles, please
turn with me to the book of Song of Solomon Chapter 5.
Again, we're so blessed that you're here.
We're so thankful for every single person that contributed
to making this conference happen if you notice there's new chairs
this year because we want you to feel a little bit uncomfortable
and feel, what the persecuted Church gets to feel all the time
but then that concern because they're just caught up in the
glory of God. No, I'm just kidding.
That's not the reason why, but we're appreciative of your
understanding The book of Song of Solomon, who here has read
it. It's an interesting book because
it is unlike really any other book in the scriptures.
The reason being is that the content doesn't present itself
as Redemptive history. You don't see a storyline of
events taking place at describe God's working in the world that
lead up to the coming of Jesus Christ.
It's also not a book about prophecies, whether a judgment
or the coming of the Messiah or the second coming of the
Messiah. And it's not a book like we see
in the Epistles and even the gospels where we get direct
teaching and commands. But our faith and practice.
The book of Song of Solomon is a romantic dialogue between a man
and a woman who are pursuing marriage pursuing that Covenant
with one another and you and I get a glimpse into their passion
for one another. And this book, many don't read
it for different reasons. And one of the reasons it makes
them blush really and teacher shy away from teaching from it,
because it doesn't seem to offer much except that one facet of
your life, where you are pursuing a woman or, or being
pursued by a man to come into that relationship of marriage.
And if you read it carefully, you understand?
At least one thing God, cherishes, this gift called
marriage and he actually wants it to be enjoyable.
I know that's a hard thing to understand.
Especially for those who are in marriage.
They kind of lose that wine as as it happened in the wedding of
Cana. They lose that joy and that
celebration and this book. Contradicts, all of that, this
book shows us that you can actually no true desire for
someone else. And you can cherish one another
and you understand that God has provided that person as a gift
to you. But is that it is this book just
all about giving you some language.
Men, if you're not good at communicating your emotions,
this book will help you, but is that it?
No, it's not it. I am of those who believe that
you can find Christ in every book of the Bible.
Because we are told in the last chapter of the Gospel of Luke,
when Jesus had a personal Bible study with two people on a
seven-mile journey to Emmaus, that beginning with Moses and
the prophets, he began to interpret all the scriptures
concerning himself, beginning with Moses and the prophets, he
began to draw out of not some of the scriptures, all of the
scriptures. Concerning himself.
Can you find Jesus in The Book of Song of Solomon?
You sure can with wisdom, you sure can with a balanced, you
sure can. Here's a, here's a simple
illustration to help us understand that this is not such
a difficult idea to grasp did not the Holy Spirit, inspired
the Apostle Paul to describe the relationship with Christ and the
church through the imagery of what a passionate bridegroom
pursuing and cherishing a bride. And so in some sense, you can
come to this book and you can see some not all because some
people get wild and crazy with interpretation, right?
But you can see some Shadow and some kind of indication of how
we can relate what we see in this book to our relationship
with the Lord, Jesus Christ. And the principle of all of that
is this you and I have something called, We Tell it to people all
the time. Don't we a personal relationship
with God? Personal not corporate, not a
relationship through your pastor who spoon feeds you sermons
know, a personal relationship with the Living God.
And one example, I believe we see here is in chapter 5 of this
book. Here's what's happening.
At this point, the woman, the unnamed woman apparently has a
dream in this chapter and she is describing the dream that she
has and the description of this dream really centers around this
experience. That her beloved Solomon
approaches her door, approaches her room to be in close
proximity with her but she ignores it and she misses the
opportunity and she realizes the foolishness of her laziness to
not answer that door. And so she is On a quest.
Now to find him. And so she gets up, she leaves
her home and she goes to the city.
This is all the dream that she's describing as she goes to the
city and she begins to desperately and frantically try
to find this man and she is so panicky that she begins not to
kind of go to other people. Have you seen him?
Have you seen him?
Finally, there's this group called the daughters of
Jerusalem. Who observed This Woman's
passion and her distress that they put her aside and they
inquire there's something there's something about this
man, clearly that is making this woman act this way and say these
things. And so, finally, this these
Outsiders inquire of this woman and come to verse 9 and see what
they say, What is your beloved? More than any beloved other
beloved. All most beautiful among women.
What is your beloved more than another beloved that you thus a
juror us? Let me read one more time.
What is your beloved more than another beloved?
All most beautiful among women? What is your beloved more than
another beloved that you thus a juror has in essence?
What they're saying is, hey what's so special about this
guy? What's what about in that is
making you so crazy running around in these streets and
trying to find out where he is. Why leave the comfort of your
home? Why?
Come in the middle of the night? Why are you going up to
strangers and are asking them for their Direction?
What about this man is causing you to be this way?
And I can't help but read these verses and immediately examine
my own heart and ask how would I answer these types of questions
as somebody were to ask me about my personal relationship with
the Lord Jesus Christ? What's the big deal about Jesus?
Why do you choose to worship Him among other gods?
I see your social media, I see what you do on weekends.
Why do you Center your entire life around someone that you
can't even see. Why have you surrendered your
way of life? I knew who you were before.
This whole thing called being born again, I know who you are.
Why are you different now? Why are you letting go of your
friends? Why are you letting go of your
past patterns? Why are you not going where you
used to go? Why are you not being with who
you used to be with what did this men do to you for you to
speak this way and act like this?
How would you answer that? How would you answer that?
I think some people would answer this way.
Well, you know, I grew up in the church and You know, just grew
up in the church and mom and dad knew Jesus and I just thought,
you know, this is what I'm used to.
This is what I know. So yeah, just I go to church and
are you able to respond in such a way in which you don't have to
pair it? Someone else's words.
Are you able to actually? Are you able actually Express
who he is? In a manner in which it would
cause people to question their unbelief in your Jesus.
What does he mean to us or is he just theology?
Is he just Doctrine? You know, there are a lot of
people who are theologians that will be in Hell one day.
You can have your theology on blackboard and have your heart
empty of the Holy Spirit. Doesn't take much to memorize
some truths and be able to share it with others.
Passionately. You got to know the person of
Jesus Christ. Who is he to you?
What has he done for you? And this woman here is about to
answer. She's about to answer in a
specific way, but hear me in this.
As we begin this conference, many people perhaps even in this
room have reduced their Christian experience to do's and
don'ts That's what it is. But I would ask this if we're
going around telling people that Christianity is not a religion,
it's a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Let's humbly, ask this question to ourselves.
How much of the person do I know?
Do I claim with others that I have a relationship with He's a
person. He's a person.
And it's amazing how this woman answers.
Look what she says in verse 10. My beloved is radiant and Ruddy
distinguished among 10,000. His head is the finest gold.
His locks are wavy black as a raven.
His eyes are like doves besides streams of water.
Bathed in milk, sitting beside a fool, pull pool.
His cheeks are like the beds of spices mounds of sweet-smelling
herbs. His lips are lilies dripping
liquid myrrh. His arms are rods of gold set
with jewels. His body is polished.
Ivory bedecked with sapphires. His legs are Alabaster columns,
sometime basis of gold. His appearance is like Lebanon
Choice as The Cedars. What an answer?
What an answer, she could have just said, you know, we're
planning to get married, he's my fiance.
Have you seen him around? No, nothing of the sort, the
moment. These people ask who is this guy
that makes you do this and feel this way she explodes, she
explodes. You just you just Twisted the
top now and I'm going to let it all out.
Let me tell you how wonderful he is.
And you know what? She does read carefully.
She Grab some from head to toe. She goes from his hair to his
eyes, to his cheeks, to his lips, to his arms, to his body,
to his legs, from head to toe. Let me tell you, just why he
magnetizes me and now, wonderful, he is, and what's so
amazing about this is that you can clearly tell that this woman
studied her beloved She didn't give some quick insignificant
answer. No.
She began to tell you spontaneously without
preparation, who this man is And I'm afraid that modern
Christianity especially in the west because of our Biblical
illiteracy. We know how to give general
answers, I knew how to do it. I'm telling you, I've come to
conferences like this, maybe a younger age and we would break
out into groups and they would. And, I would answer those things
like I would even get scripture references.
But there is no reality. There is no praise.
There's no worship. There was no devotion.
And I wonder how much of Jesus do we really know?
How much of Jesus do? We really know with all the
facets that we are? Given in the scriptures with all
the angles that we are provided see what this woman is saying is
whether you're from far up close, you'll realize something
he is beautiful from head to toe, he is incomparable.
In fact, she says, he is distinguished among 10,000.
There is no one like this man. How much of Christ do we know in
terms of him being savior? And saving work.
Oh, he died on the cross. Great.
What did that mean? Why did he die on the cross?
What did it mean for him to die on the cross?
What did it do for Humanity for him to die on the cross?
What did his blood do in your life?
He saved me from hell. That's wonderful.
He doesn't just save you from how he saves you from sin.
What did he save you from? What sins?
Did he save you from? Can we stand before an
unbelieving world and say, look, I want to tell you what, Jesus
Christ saved me from this is who I was before.
This is who I am now. I'm not perfect, but I'm walking
in Victory. You see what I'm trying to say?
Hope I'm trying to communicate this.
Clearly, how much do we know of them as high priest?
His Priestly work. Now we think Jesus ministry is
over. No, he's actually high priest in
heaven as we speak. When was he ordained as a high
priest? Why high priest?
What does it mean for Jesus to be king?
What will it look like when he does come to this world and Rule
and Reign for a thousand years? What does it mean for Jesus to
be king of my life? Now what does he do for you as
king? Who is he, as healer?
What does he heal from? Is he able to heal it?
Does he heal all things? What does it mean for him to
keep his promises? What kind of promises has he
given you? What a kind of promises?
Do you see what I'm trying to say?
She begins to just Ramble On on and on and on and then it's
almost as though she runs out of language and just comes to this
point in verse 16 his mouth is most sweet and he is altogether.
Desirable This is my beloved look what she saying.
This is my beloved. I didn't learn this in seminary.
I didn't just get this for my favorite teachers on YouTube
though. They help.
This is my beloved and this is my friend mine.
O Daughters of Jerusalem. and like with Christ take any angle,
Look at any aspect of who he is and you will come to this
conclusion. He is altogether.
Lovely. He is altogether desirable.
Look at him in his Holiness. Look at him in his love.
Look at him in his mercy and his grace.
Look at him and his judgments, you know, a lot of people today
are uncomfortable with the doctrine of hell with the
doctrine of God's Wrath. Do you realize in the Book of
Revelation? How much of the themes of
worship songs are his judgments? You know, in heaven, people are
actually going to be singing and praising God with hallelujahs
for him judging the wicked. Because no matter what point you
take just like a diamond no matter what face you turn it
towards it will radiate his Beauty And His Majesty he is
infinitely glorious. He is altogether desirable.
I mean, you can use any example, you can go to any portion of the
scripture and you will find something of just how wonderful
he is. Let me give you an example, with
the genealogies of Jesus Christ, the things that we skip over The
genealogies of Jesus Christ. You can see his majesty right
there, how? Matthew, and what's the other
book? Luke correct Matthew, why did
Matthew give us the genealogy of Jesus Christ?
Was audience was a Jewish audience and he wanted to show
the people he want to show the nation of Israel that Jesus
Christ son, of Joseph, son of Mary, Jesus Christ is what he
is, the legal heir to David's throne.
And so he reels back the lineage, through David to
Abraham to show that he is a Jew and he is in fact a descendant
of David Therefore, as a descendant of David, he must and
he will occupy the throne and he will deliver the people of
Israel, he will deliver the Jews.
Not politically one day, he's going to do it in a real sense
where he's going to come into this world and he's going to
occupy a throne in Jerusalem. But more importantly, for the
soul, he will liberate your soul.
He will set you free once and for all the nation of Israel
must realize through that genealogy, Jesus Christ is in
fact, a descendant of David, the son of David.
Also, the root of David. He is King of the The Jews.
Luke now, Luke comes in with a genealogy and Luke is not
concerned necessarily about a Jewish audience.
You read look carefully and Luke chapter 3.
And you realize that he does go through Mary's line, some debate
that. But I believe that is to be
true. He goes through Mary's line,
because Mary also is a descendent of David, but through
a different son of David, you got to read that carefully to
see it, but Luke is not concerned about how Jesus was a
Jew. Luke reels, the lineage all the
way back to. Who Who.
Adam. He goes all the way to the
Garden to the first man who have ever existed and saying son of
Adam, Son of God. Why did Luke do that?
Again, Luke is not concerned about a Jewish audience.
Luke wants to show that the humanness of Jesus.
Yes, but he goes back to Adam to declare what Jesus didn't come.
Just to save the Jews. He came to save the whole human
race. Jesus came to redeem man from
The Curse of Adam and he is the last Adam and he will reverse
everything that has happened in the garden and he was establish
a new Garden for all eternity. He is the greater and the final
Adam What about the other genealogies?
There isn't any why? That's by Divine Design?
You come to the Book of Mark and you realize.
Where is his genealogy? There's any deserve another one.
Maybe so. But what's marks concern?
Marks, concern isn't necessary, they show the humanness of
Jesus, or that Jesus was the king of the Jews.
March concern is to show the world that Jesus fulfilled, the
Prophecies of the suffering servant in Isaiah. and this is
how you know it you read Mark and if you've read mark There's
a is a word that occurs over and over again.
Does anybody know the word immediately?
Go to your room tonight and just scan Through The Book of Mark
and you'll see this word over and over again, immediately,
immediately immediately immediately immediately, Mark
isn't concerned about showing the depths of divine truth.
Like, in different gospels, he's not even concerned of giving
Parables as much as Matthew and Luke, he wants to show how Jesus
was eager and willing to serve the father.
So, immediately he heals and immediately, he goes to this
place and immediately returns and immediately he walks on
immediately immediately, like a good servant?
No. Hesitation Obedience.
But here's the thing in that humble is State.
We have to understand that. Even, in ancient times servants,
were not worthy to have their genealogies recorded.
There was nothing significant about who they were.
There was no great inheritance to pass down.
So Jesus, as a humble servant is irrelevant.
Concerning a genealogy. He's just a good servant.
John. What is John's concern
concerning Jesus is the show that he was a king.
Is that the show that he was a son of man in terms of being a
human was, at the show that he was a suffering servant.
Where is John's genealogy of Jesus?
Well, John's concern is to demonstrate one thing.
He's the son of God. He is God in the flesh.
He's the Eternal one who came into this, temporal world, and
he radiated, the divine nature. We know that in the Book of
John, you see, those wonderful I am statements.
So you want to know where the genealogy of Jesus says in John,
there isn't any. Why?
Because he's God. In the beginning was the word
and the Word was with God and the Word was God, no need for
genealogy. He always was.
He always will be Jesus. Christ is forever.
God Genealogy does not your heart burn within you just to
realize the Masterpiece of the genealogies of Jesus Christ.
And we haven't even got to his work in his words yet.
He is altogether desirable He's altogether.
Wonderful. And that's the point of this
conference. This is the greatest enemy to a
preacher by the way. A giant clock.
How wonderful nice to meet you again friend, every year?
I see that thing I'm like, oh, great.
This is the whole point of the conference for one single
purpose. One single purpose, prayerfully
to be understood that you and I would fall in love with the
person of Jesus Christ. Because that is the whole Crux
of the matter. And when you real, if I can use
this language when you see him head to toe, I mean this weekend
will not do justice because here's what it is when you come
to the realization of who he is, it's like entering into a door.
When you come to a certain portion of scripture or you hear
a certain truth, you enter into a door.
And here, this room filled with jewels and gems and diamonds and
you examine them and I can tell you this from just 10 years of
walking with the Lord and you think you figured it all out,
you memorize them. You place them in nice little
cases. You memorize certain thing and
you're like wow this is amazing. What a wonderful Discovery and
an offer sudden you look up and you see a wall another door and
you open that door, you enter. And it's a bigger room and you
thought, I thought I was over. I thought I realized all that I
need to realize and then you see all these brand new jewels and
gems and diamonds and coins and chest, and you open them up and
you think after a few years I think I got it.
I think I understand then you look up and you see another door
and you open that door and there it is.
Another big room filled with all these wonderful things.
That's what it's like to know him.
Anything well, where does it end?
Well, I'll tell you where it ends one day, you'll come to a
room, you'll open that door. And that door is going to lead
you into a place called heaven. And when you get to heaven it's
not going to have a door. It's not going to have walls.
It's going to be an endless space where you will discover
that the vine glories of God. For all eternity thousand years
will pass by and you would only scratch the surface of just how
wonderful he is. But we need help.
We need help. Because we're clogged with so
much dirt and filth and distractions.
I'm telling you, this generation will have it on its Tombstone
death by Distraction. We need help and Paul himself
knows that the church needs help.
That's why he says in Ephesians 1 16, 17.
I do not cease. To give, thanks to you.
Remembering you my prayers at the god of our Lord.
Jesus Christ. The father of Glory, may give
you the spirit of wisdom. And Revelation in the knowledge
of him. Church of Ephesus.
I am fully aware that you and I need the power of the Holy
Spirit, his wisdom, his Revelation to come to the
knowledge of who he is. You see tonight, the holy spirit
is eager to glorify the Son of God because that's what he was
sent to do. But the Holy Spirit meets a
heart that is hungry. See Paul was hungry, not just
for him but for the church to understand him so he prays and
the Holy Spirit when he sees a heart that says I want to know
him more, he'll meet it and he'll do it in different ways.
I'm telling you, do it in your personal reading.
He'll do it through a sermon. He'll do it through
conversations. He finds marvelous ways to
reveal the Majesty of the person.
You and I claim to be savior. What's the result?
I'm closing now? What's the result of this many
things? You'll know deeper worship a
deeper devotion? And something happens in the
world things begin to get, strangely, grim and gray and
they lose their flavor. you know, once in a while I hear
about Trends and stuff and I just kind of want to peek into
what's You know, happening in the world.
So I dip my toe in it and I look into him like this is what
people are crazy about this stuff.
This is what people are obsessed with and millions of views are
going towards. I'm like no, thank you.
And I close that door and I go back to that room.
That Jesus open. So yes, you will know a deeper
love from a deeper revelation of Us near sense of his presence.
But look, at chapter 6, verse 1, of Song of Solomon, look at what
the people who initially asked this woman, what's the big deal
of your beloved? Look, what happens to them?
Where has your beloved gone? O?
Most beautiful among women. Where has your beloved turn?
That we may seek him with you? You see what happens here.
So you have these inquires, you have those that are asking and
then the moment, the woman describes the man, they are now
persuaded to search for him as well.
They are now not just curious about This Woman's relationship
with this men. They are now curious to discover
the man for themselves. You know what this generation
needs more than anything, real Christians, like real
Christians, real Christians. Possessed with a love and
Obsession for this person. Jesus Christ to the point where
it's contagious to the point where I actually makes people
wonder why is it that you don't do all these things and you're
so consumed with this person and you seem like a person who's
mentally stable, you seem like a person who's educated, you don't
seem like you're off the grid. You seem like a sensible person.
So why is it that you are so different?
And perhaps it's possible that you and I can come to a place
where we are so, so captured and enthralled by him, that
evangelism is just a natural outcome of our personal worship.
And people wonder what is happening here.
And then they begin to wonder, and they begin to make their own
Quest. You want to see happening in the
New Testament, I assure you, this is over after this.
Matthew Chapter 2, what happens in Matthew chapter 2 Look at
verse one, you're familiar with this.
Matthew 21. Now, after Jesus was born in
Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod, the king behold, wise
men from the East came to Jerusalem saying, look at this.
Where is he? Where is he who has been born
King of the Jews for? We saw his star when it Rose and
have come to worship Him. Contrary to the manger scene
that you see up in Christmas, there was, I believe more than
three. There was enough wise, men to
come into Jerusalem and cause a Ruckus.
It says, all of Jerusalem was disturbed by these men coming in
and Desiring to know where the Messiah is.
So they come and they say where is he?
We want to know where this king of the Jews were ready to
worship Him. Here's my question, how do these
wise men from the East have any understanding of a Jewish King?
Who would be born at this time? I understand if Israelis at this
time would say, hey, where is he?
We've studied the books. We realize that he can be coming
any moment now, and we want to know where he's at.
We want to worship and you have men from the East traveling
miles upon miles to come to Jerusalem to inquire.
What's the relationship? How do these wise men?
These Magi have any comprehension that there would
be a messiah born as a child. Here's what I believe.
If you scan scripture, your realize that there is a heavy
load of evidence of these people called the Magi, the wise men
and a specific book in the Old Testament, which one is it?
The Book of Daniel? The Book of Daniel.
And what's amazing about Daniel who is taken from Israel with
his friends because of God's judgment upon the nation brought
to which place Babylon. There brought their right before
Babylon and Daniel has such an influence.
He is so filled with the spirit. He is now promoted early on in
the Book of Daniel, to be chief of who the Magi chief of the
Wiseman. And I believe Daniel had gained
such respect such Authority that those who were under His
tutelage those who are under his supervision heard about this
Messiah through his own Lips Read Daniel, how much does he
get about the revelation of the Messiah to come the son of man
the one who's about to come in a certain amount of years and I am
sure that with Daniel pass along to the Magi as a person of great
impact on their culture, these Magi passed down from one
generation to the next one. Generation to the next one.
Generation to the next to the point of this.
This generation with a magi realize, he should be here any
moment now and they come because of one person who worked in a
governmental position. They had the audacity in the
boldness to speak about the Wonders, the coming Kingdom of
the true king that would destroy all other kingdoms and
governments. Imagine that one man's testimony
had generational effects. I'm sure Daniel though, he was
prophetic didn't understand the implications of what he would
share in his office and what he would share in those courtrooms
and all for a sin. You have these men of the East
as says that great teacher, Daniel hundreds of years ago,
told us about this Messiah. Now, we want to come and see
him. Where is he?
We want to worship. And so you and I have an
opportunity to deepen our understanding of Christ to
worship and truly to love him, to see him through the lens of
the scripture in such a way. When we go back into that world,
we will have a new Fresh seal and sharpness to our testimony
of Christ. The other people would say I've
been pretty miserable my whole life.
Where is he? I want to know him more.
I'm excited for this weekend. I hope you are too.
This is a deep. Well that never runs dry.
Never been disappointed. Sometimes this word punches me
in the gut with conviction and other times, it showers me with
comfort that the Living God is watching.
Over me, he's for me, is with me.
He would lead me to the end. I would like to say so much
more, but we'll leave it for this weekend.
Let's pray together, shall we? And just set your heart to ask
what Paul asked of the spirit of wisdom and revelation.
Lord, help me. See Christ.
My eyes have been dull for a while.
My heart has been hard. Lord your word.
If I'm honest has been collecting dust instead of
collecting my affections. Heavenly Father.
Lord we are humbled in this place.
Lord, we want to partner with you, to know the depths of who
Jesus is. Low.
We don't want to just no General things or take us up close.
Help us see him in his Humanity. Help us, see us.
See him in his divinity. Help us.
See us in him. Help us see us without him.
Lord in this place. You know, the hearts that know
you, you know, the hearts that have yet to come to know you but
we pray that together in this place, we would all have an
encounter with Christ and that we would all get in our cars and
leave this place by the end of the week and knowing that we
have met with the Living God. Do we pray against the works?
Of Satan, we pray against the things that would distract
people from seeing Christ and that could be as simple as
sickness Lord. We pray that every person in
this place would be Heavenly minded with all the joys of
fellowship and games and all these wonderful things.
We pray that one thing would be true that you would be the
Supreme desire of our hearts. And Lord if that's not the case.
When our hearts this weekend, transform us.
Because Lord, we know that, when we see you rightly, we see other
things, everything the way we're supposed to see them.
And so Lord, in this place we commit this week and every
session all the times in between that you would be in the midst.
We pray for profound Fellowship, we pray for life-changing
sessions, we pray, Lord, that if this book is true that we would,
we would love you the way you deserve to be loved and we know
that you're able to bring us there.
We commit these things into the hands of the living Christ in
Jesus name we pray. Amen, and amen.
God bless you, the stand and Worship the Lord together.