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SONG OF SOLOMON 6:10

"THE CHURCH"

Intro: Three methods of interpreting. Material ethical, allegorical.
       Easter love story. Protest against polygamy. The relationship
       between God and Israel, Christ and Church. 6:10 becomes Christ's
       description of His church.

I. "LOOKETH FORTH AS THE MORNING" THE CHURCH WITHIN HERSELF.
        A. Morning speaks of freshness.
                1. A new start, a new day.
                2. It breaths of hope.
                        a. The night has been long, a new day is dawning.
                        b. The darkness of sin is past, now beginning.
        B. The church's message is one of hope.
                1. You can have a new beginning.
                2. A fresh start.
                3. Universally a new day is dawning.

II. "FAIR AS THE MOON" THE CHURCH BEFORE THE WORLD.
        A. The moon lights the darkness of the night.
                1. A reflected light of the sun.
                        a. So must we reflect the light of the Son of God.
        B. The moon's constant testimony, the sun still shines.
                1. Life on the earth dependent upon the sun.
                2. As the sun sets and darkness covers the earth how do I
                   know if the sun still shines?
                3. So out testimony to the world is that Christ still
                   lives.
                        a. As we look at our sad dark world is there any
                           hope?
                                1. For peace? Love? Safety? Man?
                                2. Does the sun still shine?

III. "CLEAR OR PURE AS THE SUN" THE CHURCH BEFORE HER LORD.
        A. As the result of the intense heat, no impurities can survive,
           so through the fire of the Holy Spirit the impurities of the
           church purged.
                1. As Jesus looks at us through eyes of love, He sees
                   the finished product.
                2. As we look at ourselves we often become discouraged,
                   we see the product being formed through the rough
                   stages.
                        a. Still so many impurities and flaws.
                        b. We get so impatient with the process.
                        c. God is so gentle and patient with us.

IV. "TERRIBLE AS AN ARMY WITH BANNER" THE CHURCH BEFORE THE ENEMIES OF
     THE LORD."
        A. The church should strike terror in the hearts of the enemies
           of righteousness.
                1. The church should speak out against evil.
                        a. Corruption, immorality, violence, pornography.
                2. Listen to some of the sermons today, you'd think that
                   we singed a non-aggressive treaty with hell.
        B. Jesus set the pace for the church.
                1. When he met the demon-possessed man, who said, "leave
                   us along, what have we to do with thee."  Jesus
                   answered,  "Come out of him thou unclean spirit."
                2. Evil is always saying to the church, "leave us alone."

V. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE CHURCH LOSES HER FRESHNESS?
        ENTHUSIASM WANES, SONG IS GONE?
        A. Jesus said to Church at Ephesus, "thou hast left thy first
           love."
                1. For the church or the individual nothing more tragic
                   than this.
                        a. Bloom of love has faded, freshness is gone.
                2. We then begin to fail to reflect His light on the
                   world.
        B. What must we do?
                1. Return to out first love.