Remember that we are examining the beauty and faithfulness of marital love, and by that, our relationship with the Lord and His church. In these verses we see the great desire this Shulamite woman has for her beloved. She desires him. She longs for him. She goes to great lengths to find him. This speaks of the beauty of that type of dedication a wife might have toward her husband. We are not giving a lot of attention here to how the husband feels about his wife for a very simple reason. This is because we know that Jesus is the Bridegroom, and we know that He loves us. So here we see:

I. HER DESIRE.

II. HER DILIGENCE -- VS. 2.

III. HER DETERMINATION.

IV. HER DEVOTION -- VS. 4.

I believe it is obvious that today, there is a lack of true love for the Lord’s churches. Several years ago I read an article titled “Meet Those Who ‘Love Jesus But Not The Church.’’ First of all, that sentiment cannot be supported biblically. It is like saying, “I like to play baseball, but I don’t care to be on a team.” It makes no sense. The term “Christian” means “Christ like.” Listen to Ephesians 5:25: “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it . . . ” The Lord did not intend for believers to be “freelancers,” working by our own authority (of which we have none) and for personal benefit, when it comes to His Kingdom work. Simply put, you can’t love the Lord without loving this church! If you love someone or something, you're going to want to be around them, or it. So do you love your wife/husband? Do you love your children? Do you find enjoyment in being with them? If you love this church, you will want to be here! Of course, I know there are those who are physically unable to be here. I’m not talking about them. But, if God gives you health and God gives you strength, one of the first things you should do with it is to use it to attend the public worship of the Lord. You cannot serve God however you want to, or just “whenever” you want to. You'll do it in His way. II Timothy 2:5 says, “And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.” In Ephesians 3:21 we read, “Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” Again, the problem is that many do not really have a self-sacrificing love for Christ. They say they do. However, it isn’t revealed in their actions. In the verses of this chapter we see how we who make up the Lord’s churches should feel about our beloved Lord.

Please excuse the presence of the wind noise. This service was held outdoors due to a fire in our building on Saturday afternoon.

The Song of Solomon has been called a "mystery" book. One source said, “Few have a clear understanding of it.” It is “generally understood to be a sort of drama, positive interpretation of which is impossible.” This may be because 1) The identity of the one speaking is not always clear, and 2) The length of the speeches is not easily identified. Young Jewish boys were not allowed to read this book until at least 18 years of age (because of its content). Song of Solomon actually seems to speak of the beauty and faithfulness of marital love. Some present it as having 3 main characters (and this is the way I will be looking at it): The Shulamite bride, her shepherd lover, and King Solomon. One accepted view of this book is that it expresses the love between God and His people (by application, His churches). In this series of messages we will study it from that standpoint. The Lord has used the husband/wife relationship to picture the relationship between Himself and His churches. We are NOT the Bride yet, but, as His churches, we are engaged to Him - II Corinthians 11:1-4. However, we know that His Bride will be chosen from the faithful of His true churches. Thus, the great love between the Shulamite woman and her shepherd lover pictures how we in the Lord's churches should feel about Jesus and how He feels about us. First of all we see:

I. HER ADORATION OF HIM.

II. HER ATTRACTIVENESS TO HIM.

III. HER ATTITUDE TOWARD HIM.

Well, we have arrived, after many months, at the end of our study of Ecclesiastes. I personally am a bit sad to see it come to an end. It has been quite a challenge and at the same time quite a blessing. Even though this book is over 3,000 years old, it is just as contemporary today as it was when the Holy Spirit moved Solomon to write it. People are still seeking purpose, meaning, and satisfaction in life through mirth, and wine, and wisdom, and wealth, and physical relationships. And they are still finding that none of these can truly satisfy the soul. It appears that Solomon is recounting his life experiences and maybe is saying, “Don’t fall into the same traps that I did.” In vs.12 he addresses his reader by saying, “My son,” and you sense the heart-felt passion of a father who desperately wants his son to hear and heed this powerful message. It is the the kind of note a father would write to his son as he hands him a Bible and sends him off to college, or out into the world on his own. It is fatherly, it is sincere, and it is incredibly serious. Young people would do well to listen to the advice and instruction of godly parents. We have been a little farther down the road of life than you have. We know where all the potholes and detours are because we have experienced them. Even though technologies have changed (and will change), the basics of this world and the nature of mankind have not. I mentioned last week that we have the beginnings of a good young adult group in Bethel, and it is going to be and currently IS up to you to carry on the work of this church. And the only way to do it is to pay close attention to the kind of wisdom Solomon and God’s Word give us. So, let’s look into the last few verses of Ecclesiastes and see “the whole duty of man.”

  I.  THE COMMENDATION OF WISDOM – VV. 9-10.

 II.  THE CORRECTION OF WISDOM – VS. 11.

III. THE CONCLUSION OF WISDOM – VV. 13-14.

We’re going to talk about, among other things, serving God and getting older today. Here’s how to tell you’re getting older. Everything hurts! and what doesn't hurt, doesn't work. You sit in a rocking chair but you can't get it going! Your knees buckle but your belt won't! The little gray haired lady you help across the street is your wife! You sink your teeth into a steak, and they stay there! You decide to procrastinate, but never get around to it.

Solomon is speaking to a “young man,” but what he has to say is good instruction for all of us. George Bernard Shaw once said, “Youth is wasted on the young.” There is some truth in that. Often younger people are so wrapped up in building their lives and enjoying themselves that they take no thought for the things that truly matter. They seem more committed to themselves than to the will of God for their lives. Therefore, they seem to lack a deep sense of commitment to the things of God. Ecclesiastes 11:7-12:1, is Solomon’s challenge to young people to serve the Lord while they are still young. The aged Solomon, after looking back on his life and his search for purpose in it, tells his readers in vs. 1 that "evil days” are coming. Often, by the time one realizes that they need to do something to make their life matter, they may no longer be physically or mentally able to do it. As we age, the reality of the brevity of life becomes very real. Someone once said, “You are only as old as you feel.” Someone else said, “Age is like weight; it’s just a number.” Whatever the case, Psalm 49:10-12 reminds us: “For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others. (11) Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names. (12) Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish.” That is why Solomon says what he does in verse 1. There are two very simple main thoughts in this message today. Remember your Creator before you decline. Remember your Creator before you die. These are clearly admonitions against procrastination, against putting of faithfully serving God. So, let's examine them.

I. REMEMBER YOUR CREATOR BEFORE YOU DECLINE – VV. 1-5.

II. REMEMBER YOUR CREATOR BEFORE YOU DIE – VV. 6-8.

This psalm is one of the best psalms in the Bible on contentment in the family. It shows us how to have true, godly contentment in our homes. I believe one of the worst things to happen to homes was when moms were made to feel like they were not successful unless they had a career outside the home, or when, due to finances they had to go to work to help support the family. My Opinion: (And I believe the Bible supports it) One of the greatest stabilizing factors in the home is a faithful, godly mother raising her children in the home. That should not be degrading to any Christian mother! From the very beginning this has been God’s will. In Genesis 2:18 we read, “And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.” "Help" is from a word that means to surround, i.e. protect or aid. "Meet" refers to the opposite part; (from a word that means) to stand boldly out opposite. Wives, women are not supposed to try to be men, and men are not to try to be women. First Corinthians 11:3 gives God’s order for the home, and godly wives are supposed to support godly husbands in leading the home, especially in spiritual matters. I have a great respect for any wife/mother who has to work outside the home and then comes home to work inside the home. Unfortunately, and maybe because we humans become discontented with what God gives us and want more of what the world offers, we become discontented in our homes. What is contentment? It is an inner sufficiency that keeps us at peace in spite of outward circumstances. It has the idea of being self contained. (When they send a space shuttle up, it has to be self-contained. They can’t run to Walmart or the convenience store if they need something.) Contentment is NOT complacency, “laid back,” or self-satisfied. It is not necessarily learning to “do without” certain things only. You can have possessions and not be content. (Why do the wealthy often have to have more?) And, we can not have possessions and still be content. In Philippians 4:11-12 – The Apostle Paul had learned how to be content. One more quick thought. The Bible does not say it is wrong to have material possessions (See Deuteronomy 8:18 -- what God said to Israel) (See Psalm 35:27.) “Prosperity” is not in material goods only. It can come in other ways. I am prosperous. I have God in my life, health, faithful children, a church that loves me, etc. It does not take either poverty or wealth to learn contentment. It takes true faith in God. This morning from Psalm 128 we will see:

  I.  WHAT DESTROYS FAMILY CONTENTMENT?

 II.  WHAT DEFINES FAMILY CONTENTMENT?

III. WHAT DEVELOPS FAMILY CONTENTMENT?

If I had to declare whether I am an optimist or a pessimist, I would say I am neither. I am a realist. Life has taught me to be a realist. PMA refers to a positive mental attitude which, I believe, tends at time to look at things through rose colored lenses. The fact is that not everything in life is positive. Not everything is negative, but we must deal with all things. These verses have caused many to question what Solomon is doing as he nears the end of this book of Ecclesiastes. He is giving us a taste of realism versus the PMA/secular wisdom of his day. One person suggested that he sounds like a pessimistic motivational speaker. He offers a word of encouragement, something positive, then adds some sort of negative comment that seems to take the joy out of what he has just said. This is the “wisdom” of the day that focuses on life in this flesh and that is all about making this life better, happier, more successful (just like it does today). If you could take just the first half of these last 3 verses and repackage them a little, you could go right to the top as a motivational speaker/preacher. Are you speaking to a group of students? An athletic team? A graduating class? 1)   Find the positive. (Rejoice in every moment.) 2)   Focus on the possible. (Realize your dreams.) 3)   Forsake the problems. (Remove the obstacles to success.) The world loves this. Facebook is filled with it. Business associates are hearing it at annual conferences and sales rallies all the time. It is even in pulpits today. This is secular wisdom. What is Solomon doing? Why is he saying these things? He is coming to the end of the book, and he is bringing the point of it home to us, and the main point he wants us to dwell on is at the end of each of these verses. Just as people are regurgitating the shallow wisdom of the day, Solomon reaches out and pulls the rug right out from under them (and us). He is punching hole after hole in the common wisdom, the secular wisdom of the day. It is as if he is sitting beside us during one of those motivational speeches/sermons, whispering to us and reminding us of how shallow, how incomplete all of this advice really is. Rejoice in every moment (but it is futile because death is coming). Realize your dreams (but know that you will one day stand in judgment before God). Remove your obstacles (but do it fast because life is fleeting). Solomon is preparing us to come face to face with the realities of life (and I think this is something God’s people in America genuinely need). We don’t live in a perfect world. You cannot escape everything negative. (You’d have to go out of this world to do so – I Corinthians 5:9-11.) Sadness, pain, and grief are just as much a part of life as joy and pleasantness. And in all of this he is going to point us to God and to Jesus.

As we look at the second half of this book, remember that we are looking at the pursuit of wisdom. We have been in this pursuit since chapter 7. We have seen that wisdom can be gained through mourning and sorrow, and even by attending a funeral (7:2). Wisdom is found in pursuing righteousness, even though righteousness might not bring an immediate temporal reward. (It may not make life instantly easier.) We have seen the wisdom of civil submission (8:2). (Our fear of God teaches us to respect authority.) We have seen the wisdom of contemplating and preparing for death, learning to enjoy life, and preparing for eternity. (Live with the expectation of standing before the Judgment Seat of Christ.) And we have seen the wisdom of being humble and avoiding being combative (Matthew 5:3).  The truths we are learning in Ecclesiastes are not presented just so we can have a more enjoyable life. (It is wisdom that is needed to properly respond to Christ and the kingdom of Heaven.) If we don’t learn to submit, what will we do when the Lord instructs us to deny ourselves and take up our cross and follow Him? If we won’t learn to be humble, what will we do when He exposes our sin and tells us to repent? If we will not acknowledge the certainty of death, what will we do when He calls upon us to lose this life (in service to Him) for rewards in the next? This instruction teaches to put aside the foolishness of the flesh so that we might follow Jesus. In our text Solomon gives us what may appear as merely practical advice for living. However, it is really wisdom to prepare us for living as a child of God should live (EXAMPLES: Some see vs.1 as practical advice about commerce. (I’m not sure that was Solomon’s intent.) Some see vs. 2 as practical advice concerning diversification and planning for the future. Some see vv.3-6 as advice about farming -- 1)   The importance of labor, 2)   Avoiding procrastination, 3)   And even embracing some uncertainty as we work. Do you really believe that was Solomon’s objective here? Of course not. (Jesus used farming illustrations, but He wasn’t teaching us about farming.) Solomon’s purpose: To impart the kind of wisdom that will make us fit for living under the Kingdom of Heaven. What is the Kingdom of Heaven? It is the rule of the Kingdom principles in our lives (Example:  Matthew 7:12 – The “Golden Rule.”) There are three divisions in the text: 1) Vs. 2 – #1 -- Misfortune; #2 -- God’s activity; #3 -- The potential for success.

I. PREPAREDNESS -- YOU DON’T KNOW WHEN MISFORTUNE WILL COME, SO BE PREPARED – VV. 1-3.

II. PROCRASTINATION -- YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT GOD IS DOING, BUT YOU DO KNOW WHAT YOUR JOB IS – VV. 3-5.

III. PRODUCTIVITY -- YOU DON’T KNOW WHEN PRODUCTIVITY WILL BE HIGHEST, SO KEEP SOWING – VS. 6.

It goes without saying that the message of the resurrection is of extreme importance. If you remove the resurrection of Jesus, Christianity is destroyed. (There is no hope.) But there is great power in the resurrection. I heard of two scientists who set about to destroy Christianity by disproving the resurrection of Jesus and the conversion of Paul. A year later when they met again, they had both been saved. If you do not preach the resurrection, you are not preaching the Gospel. First Corinthians 15:1-4 defines and describes the Gospel – “according to the scriptures.” You also have to believe the resurrection – Romans 10:19. The resurrection is a unique message which the Lord’s churches alone possess. Acts 2:22-24 is the message Peter (and the apostles) preached to the world. Also see: 1) Acts 3:14-15.      2)   Acts 4:10.     3)   Acts 5:30. This is the message Paul preached – Acts 13:29-30; Also, in Athens – Acts 17:31. On the cross, the righteous Jesus experienced the wrath of God for sin that was not His own. His crucifixion was in fact the propitiation (satisfaction) for mankind’s sin. That message falls apart if Jesus is not alive today -- I Corinthians 15:14 ; I Corinthians 15:17. BUT, Jesus rose from the dead in a physical body and promises a bodily resurrection to all who will have faith in Him. All 4 Gospel writers include 4 essential truths – realities of Christ’s sacrifice -- the empty tomb; 2) the angelic witness;  3) the women gave a report; 4) the disciples did not initially believe. But there is one glaring absence to each account, one thing none of them show us. None of them were eyewitnesses of the resurrection. They were not there the moment it happened. They knew Jesus died. They knew He was buried. They saw Jesus alive afterward. But none of them saw the resurrection as it happened. Notice their viewpoints of the resurrection: 1)   Matthew focuses on the guards; 2)   Mark mentions the women as witnesses; 3)   John focuses on the empty tomb. But Luke uses none of those. He mentions nothing about the guards. He doesn’t include that Jesus appeared to the women. He does mention the empty tomb and that Peter saw the linen wrappings, but he does not say this convinced Peter of the resurrection. None of those things are Luke’s main proof. Then, what is Luke’s main proof of the resurrection? THE WORD OF GOD! Luke’s account spans 35 verses. It starts with the women at the tomb and ends on the road to Emmaus. Luke’s proof: 1) The prophets said Jesus would rise; 2)   Jesus said He would rise; 3)   And now the Gospels says He did rise from the dead. The greatest proof we have that Jesus died, was buried, and rose from the dead is THE BIBLE SAID HE WOULD. We believe in the resurrection because the Bible says it happened. That is the best proof, and it is why and what Luke believed. There are 4 things to be seen here:

  I.  THE DISAPPEARANCE OF CHRIST’S BODY – VV. 1-4a.

 II.  THE DECLARATION OF THE ANGEL – VV. 4b-8.

III. THE DISREGARD OF THE REPORT – VV. 9-11.

IV.   THE DILEMMA OF THE DISCIPLE – VS. 12.

There are many places of interest in Israel -- The old city of Jerusalem, Galilee and the Sea of Galilee, the Jordan River and Jericho. However, there is no place more interesting or better known than Calvary. People all over the world are familiar with Calvary. They know what happened there. The events in our text took place during the first three hours Jesus was on the cross. It is difficult to tell their precise order, but these events took place from 9 a.m. until noon. The Soldiers gambled for His garment. The inscription was placed upon the cross. There was the scoffing of Jesus by the multitudes. During this period of time Christ cried out 3 times: 1) He prayed for His enemies, 2) He granted eternal life to the repentant thief -- Luke 23:43, 3) He charged John to care for His mother -- John 19:26-27. Our text reveals four things about the crucifixion. The words, "There they crucified him" contain a wealth of information. Today, we will take each of these words and use them as points for this message.

I. "THERE" -- THE PLACE OF CRUCIFIXION.

II. "THEY" -- THE PEOPLE.

III. CRUCIFIED -- THE PUNISHMENT.

IV. "HIM" -- THE PERSON.