Teachings – A Garden with Pleasant Fruits

A GARDEN WITH PLEASANT FRUITS

UNFOLDING TWENTY-TWO

WHERE WE ARE

As flowers appear after a long winter, God’s creation is a living painting that He has hung before us. T’is a painting that tells us of ourselves… the seasons and years that have passed. There have been periods when the church of Christ was seemingly dormant… others, vibrant – very much alive. The ebb and flow of darkness and light surrounded that enclosed garden, but all the while, it was the Holy Spirit who quickened life and vigor. 

SCRIPTURE

Song of Songs 4: 16

“Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits.”

A GARDEN WITH PLEASANT FRUITS
UNFOLDING TWENTY-TWO

“The soul of the believer is the garden of the Lord. Within it are rare plants, such as yield ‘spices’ and ‘pleasant fruits.’ 

That is how Pastor begins his discourse. 

“The loved one desired the company of her Lord, and felt an inactive condition was not altogether suitable for His coming.”

Oh, Lord, am I inactive? Make me not so! By your Spirit, awake me, O Lord, by the north wind, and come thou south, blow upon my soul. Sometimes, we feel dead… the dead of winter. That doesn’t mean that life is not there… below… waiting to come alive.

We are entirely dependent on the free Spirit of God. Do we know that? 

“We long for the Lord of heaven to visit us.”

“Our highest wish is that Jesus may have joy in us.”

“When we are sure that He is ours we desire Him to come to us as ours, and to reveal Himself as ours.”

Is this so? Is this our desire? 

“Let my Beloved come into His garden.”

The Bride’s fruit are His fruit. 

The prayer of the spouse is – ‘let my Beloved come.’ Do we not say,  ‘Amen, let Him come?’

“Stand back, ye that would hinder Him! O my Beloved, let not my sinful, sluggish, wandering thoughts prevent Thee from coming!”

“The spouse further cries – ‘Let Him eat His pleasant fruits.’ I have often felt myself overcome with the bare idea that anything I have ever done should give my Lord pleasure.”

“O Holy Spirit, blow upon our hearts at this moment!”

THOUGHT GOING FORWARD

There is so much in this discourse to digest. I found myself thinking about the fragrance that my life spread. Is it such a sweet-savoring fragrance that the Spirit would come to spread it throughout my neighborhood? What kind of pew do I sit in at church? It’s curious how we perceive our own smell when we could not tolerate the same scent from another. O Lord, I am so foul! And yet, O Lord, it is by your grace… your kindness that you forebear… your faithfulness. Forgive me. Refresh me that you may that the spices and fruit that I bear is such that you can enjoy. 

IN TRIBUTE TO SPURGEON’S LOVE OF SHORT RYHMES

O, come thou Spirit 
cleanse me… wash me in hyssop
let nothing of me detract
or keep you from my presence.