I wanna say again how much I
appreciate the hospitality. It's always such a pleasure to
be here with you. I'm gonna ask you to take your
Bibles and turn with me to the book of Song of Solomon, chapter
two. Song of Solomon, chapter two. While you're turning there, I'm
gonna Try to look at verse 14, one verse. And while you're turning
there, I want to preface what I'm going to say this evening
by saying this. You know that the book of Song
of Solomon is the language of the Spirit of God revealing to
God's people the heart of the bridegroom himself as he speaks
to his bride. I've heard this statement all
my life. It's not what you say, it's how
you say it. Well, that might be true with
me and you. But with him, it's what he says and how he says
it. That's everything. Now you and
I know that when the Lord speaks to his people, we're quite aware
of what we are as being born in Adam. We know something of what we
are. But when he speaks to his people,
He speaks to them as who they are in Him. We are what we are by the grace
of God. We have been dug from the same
pit, the same slew of despond. And Almighty God has the right
to make one vessel of honor and leave another dug out of the
same pit to himself. And we have no right to question
him. So as we look at this one verse
of scripture this evening for just a few minutes, may the Spirit
of God give us some understanding as the Lord speaks, that he speaks
in what we truly admit is amazing grace. Song of Solomon 2.14, oh my dove,
that art in the clefts of the rock. in the secret places of
the stairs. Let me see thy countenance. Let me hear thy voice, for sweet
is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely. Now I want you to
look with me, and that's what we're doing. I'm looking with
you. we need to hear what the Lord
has to say. Listen to what the Lord says
concerning his bride. Oh my dove. Who is she? Well, according to
his word, She is His dove. How did she become His dove? Well, first of all, she is His
by gift. Gift from the Father. Gift in
eternal electing grace. chosen in Him before the foundation
of the world. Why? That she should be holy
and without blame before Him in love. The Apostle Paul in 2 Thessalonians
2 verse 13, you know the verse, but let's just let it be heard
again. That blessed verse where the
Apostle Paul gives thanks, but we are bound to give thanks unto
God for you, brethren, beloved of the Lord. For God has chosen
you unto salvation through sanctification of the spirit and belief of the
truth. We thank God that God Almighty has chosen to show mercy. We are His by gift. Secondly, we're His by purchase,
redeemed. I read this, I'm gonna turn to
Revelation five and verse nine, read this. I love reading this
passage of scripture. Revelation in it. Now these four
and 20 elders, the entire redeemed church, the scripture says in
verse 9, Revelation 5, they sung a new song saying, thou art worthy
to take the book and to open the seals thereof, for thou was
slain. and has redeemed us to God by
thy blood out of every kindred and tongue and people and nation
and has made us unto our God kings and priests and we shall
reign on the earth. How did she get to be His dove? The Father gave us to Him. Chose us out of every kindred
and nation, tribe and tongue, and he bought us, purchased us,
redeemed us. Brother Walter Groover told of
a true story of a young boy. His daddy made him a kite. I know you've probably heard
this story, a true story. His daddy made this boy a kite
in Mexico. And built that kite for his son
and gave that kite to him, a gift, gave him that kite. That's his
kite. And he got that kite out and he was so proud of it and
he had the string on it and as it went out though, the string
broke and the kite flew away. He lost his kite. And days later, They were in
a little shop and they walked in and there was the kite for
sale. And the little boy saw that kite
and told his daddy about the kite and he went and he said,
my kite's in there. They go in there and there's
the kite for sale. How much is that kite? Little
boy said, that's my kite. The owner said, well, no, it's
my kite. I bought it from somebody. And
it's for sale. How much is it? He told him.
Little boy tells his daddy, it's my kite right there. And daddy
bought that kite back. And this little boy said, it's
two times my kite. It's my kite by gift from my
daddy. And my daddy bought it, gave
it to me. Oh my dove, we're His by gift,
we're His by purchase. And then I'll tell you, we're
His by willing submission unto the Lord Jesus Christ. In the
day of God's power, All that the Father has given
the Son, the Son has redeemed by His blood. The Spirit of God
is going to cross paths with those elect. And they're going
to be under the sound of the Gospel, the only message that
the Spirit of God is pleased to bless, to the salvation of
God's people. And Almighty God, when He pleases
Him, Paul said, you separated me from my mother's womb. God's
gonna call them in power. He's gonna give them a new heart,
a new mind, and they're gonna call upon the Lord now while
they have a desire to, they have a new will. They shall be willing
in the day of thy power, and they'll come. How do you know
they're gonna come? The Lord said in John 6, 37,
all that the Father giveth me shall come to me. and him that
cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. They are his by absolute
consent and surrender. They want to come. Why do they
want to come? God's given my heart to come.
Whenever someone calls upon the Lord, why do they call? Because
they want to. I want to. Why do they want to? Because
he's made them willing. Willing. David said, my heart
is fixed. My heart is established and set. Oh God, I will sing and give
praise. Oh, that blessed praise that
the Lord hears of his people as they call upon him. So he
says, oh my. My dove, mine by gift, mine by
purchase, mine by surrender. They're mine. And what do they
do? They hear his voice. He knows
them. They follow him, they bow faithfully,
yielding to his leadership as their shepherd forever. A dove, oh, my dove. They come. Yes, the bride of
the Lord Jesus Christ is his bride, my dove. First time a dove, you know this,
ever mentioned, hold your place right there, turn to Genesis
chapter eight, Genesis 8, six. First time a dove ever mentioned,
Genesis 8, six to nine. Noah is in the ark, it came to
pass, Genesis chapter 8 starting in verse 6, it came to pass at
the end of 40 days that Noah opened the window of the ark
which he had made and he sent forth a raven which went forth
to and fro until the waters were dried up from off the earth.
Also he sent forth a dove from him to see if the waters were
abated from off the face of the ground. But the dove found no
rest for the sole of her foot. And she returned unto him into
the ark, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth.
Then he put forth his hand and took her, pulled her in unto
him into the ark. This dove is set forth. Now here's a beautiful picture
of the bride of the Lord Jesus Christ. This dove sets forth
the ones who made by the grace of God find no rest in this world. Where could that dove rest? Nowhere except in the ark. The one who continually returns
to Him and finds her rest in Christ. Where do we, where do
we as God's people find any rest? Any rest for your soul? Nowhere
but Him. Nowhere but in Christ Jesus the
Lord. She's described as one in the
scriptures, Isaiah 37, as one helpless, in need of protection. I did mourn as a dove, my eyes
failed, looking upward. Of Lord, I'm oppressed. Undertake for me. Ease me. Can you not, with the prophet
here, Prophet Isaiah, say I need some help. I need some comfort. I want him. Undertake for me. Then the dove is set forth as
one needy, In the midst of danger, behold, I send you forth as sheep
in the midst of wolves. Be you therefore wise as serpents
and harmless as dove. We're aware of the danger. I
know we're in the midst of a world that despises the God we love,
the gospel we preach, reject it. He what we are. So here the Lord says unto his
bride, My dove, my helpless one, unable to defend herself against
the enemies, my simple one, no wisdom in herself, timid, trembles
at the sight of danger. My dove, one made sensitive to
the evil without, and that old nature within, He said, but you're
my dove. And then where is this dove found? Now here's the character he describes. He said, you're my dove. What does he say back in Song
of Solomon 2 verse 14? Where is she found? He said,
thou art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of
the stairs. Where is she found? She's found
in the same place that Almighty God put Moses. Moses said, show me your glory. Show me your glory. I think the
last time I was here, if you look at that word and trace that
word back to the root word, you know what glory? Show me what
you think. Show me your thoughts. Show me your thoughts. Show me
your glory. And here's what Almighty God
said concerning His glory. I will have mercy on whom I'll
have mercy. That's the glory of the Lord. I will have compassion
on whom I'll have compassion. I'm gonna make all my goodness
pass before you. But where did He put Moses? He
said, I'm gonna put you in the cleft of the rock. Deuteronomy
33, 27 says, the eternal God is thy refuge. Where is the dove
of the Lord Jesus Christ? Where is his bride? She's in
him. Hidden in him. And how comforting, how safe
is his dove being hidden in Christ himself? in the secret places,
the hiding place, the secret places of the stairs, the inaccessible
place of rest, but for the grace of God. I tell you what, we never
put ourselves in Him. He put us in Him. Sheltered from the curse of the
law, from the sting of death, the victory of the grave. Who
is she? She is His dove. Where is she? She's in Him. And then thirdly, the Lord speaks
to His dove, expressing to her His love for her fellowship and
for the sound of her voice. Now listen to this. He says,
let me see thy countenance. Let me look upon you, you that
have been made what you are by my righteousness imputed to you. Let me view your beauty. Outside of him, we have no beauty. What are we going to offer to
the Lord concerning faithfulness? Any beauty we have is his beauty. Here the Lord Jesus is pleased
to behold his bride as he's made her to be in himself, that he
might present it to himself, a glorious church not having
spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should be holy and
without blemish, no spot, no wrinkle. Then he says to me,
and I'll tell you this, if I could, if I was, on this verse of scripture,
if I was gonna just stay right here, this is where I'm gonna
stay, right here. He says to her, let me hear thy voice. Let me hear thy voice. That voice That voice of prayer, that voice
of praise. Listen to John 15, seven. If
you abide in me and my words abide in you, you shall ask what
you will and it shall be done unto you. Luke 11, nine. And I say unto
you, ask and it shall be given you. Seek and you shall find.
Knock and it shall be opened unto you. Listen to Psalm 50,
verse 15. Call upon me in the day of trouble,
I will deliver thee, thy shall glorify me. As I began to think
upon those passages of scripture, let me hear your voice. Let me hear your voice. I want
you to just look at a couple of scriptures with me and just
think about what he just said to the bride. Let me hear your
voice. Turn to Luke 23. Luke 23, verse
39. Luke 23, 39. Luke 23, 39, one of the malefactors,
which are hanged, railed on him saying, if thou be Christ, save
thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked
him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same
condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we
receive the due reward of our deeds. But this man hath done
nothing amiss, done nothing amiss. And then, in a moment of indescribable
grace and power, and mercy and compassion, the Lord Jesus Christ
from the cross says to this object of his mercy, let me hear your
voice. And that thief on the cross says
unto him, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. The Lord spoke to him in power
and grace. Let me hear your voice. And that
thief said, Lord, remember me. And Jesus said unto him, Verily
I say unto thee, today shalt thou be with me in paradise. In Matthew 14, turn back there,
Matthew 14. Matthew 14, verse 25. in the fourth watch of the night,
Jesus went unto them walking on the sea. When the disciples
saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, it is
a spirit. They cried out for fear, but
straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, be of good cheer,
it is I, be not afraid. Then Peter answered him and said,
Lord, if it be thou bid me come unto thee, on the water and he
said come. When Peter was come down out
of the ship he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But then
the Lord in power and grace and mercy allowed Peter to do just
exactly what Peter was prone to do. When he saw the wind boisterous
He was afraid and he began to sink. And the Lord said to him,
let me hear your voice. And Peter cried saying, Lord,
save me. And immediately Jesus stretched
forth his hand, caught him, said unto him, O thou of little faith,
wherefore didst thou doubt? Now listen, a Syrophoenician
woman, She comes to him and she's pleading for her daughter. She's
grievously vexed. It's not me. It's not fit that
I should give the children bred dogs. You're right, Lord. You're right. Help me. Help me. And the Lord said of that woman,
great is thy faith. Let me hear your voice. He allowed
her to be put in a situation to where she cried out for mercy,
being made willing in the day of His power. Oh, my dove. When the Lord allows us to be
placed in those dire straits, to where we cry out for mercy,
compassion, oh, my dove. Let me behold your countenance. Let me see you in myself. Let
me hear your voice. Knowing that which they cry,
now listen to this. If you abide in me and my words
abide in you, you shall ask what you will. You think that thief
on the cross, Cody, wanted the Lord to remember him? Yes, sir. Lord, I'm getting ready to meet
God. I'm getting ready to meet you in eternity. When you enter into
your kingdom, will you remember me? Ask what you will, and it shall
be done unto you. That woman with the issue of
blood, we talked about this morning. The Lord moved upon her, gave
her a heart. Let me hear your voice. Let me
hear your voice. Oh, blind Bartimaeus. Lord's
walking through Jericho. He's coming into Jericho. And
he walked past this blind man, blind Bartimaeus. What a, what a pillar of example
of hope. A sinner saved by the grace of
God. walking by and he cried out,
Jesus, thou son of David. You know what he said? Messiah. That's what he said. Messiah,
you're the promised one. The Lord said to him, let me
hear your voice. Jesus, thou son of David, have
mercy on me. Have mercy on me. Whenever the Lord is pleased
to reveal Himself to His dove, He said, I want to see your countenance.
I want to hear your voice. Let me see. Oh, the voice of
a believer that cries out for the mercy of God. I realize that
we pray and the scripture declares that we don't know what to pray
for. The Spirit of God helpeth our infirmities. But I'm telling
you, when Almighty God moves upon his people, they struggle
to pray, but they do call. And those prayers are taken and
presented by him who the scriptures revealed in Revelation, who holds
the golden censer. And the prayers of the saints
are presented in his merit and accepted in his merit. Let me hear your voice. And those
prayers that are offered unto him and while we struggle and
you that know him, you know exactly what I'm talking about. We try
to pray. Find ourselves, I do, find myself
asking the same things over and over and over. Every day as the Lord brings
you to my memory, praying for your pastor and for you, this
congregation. And while I find myself desiring,
truly desiring, I want to, I want to, while I strive to call upon
Him. I find myself just wandering
in my mind and ashamed. And then having to admit to Him,
Lord, I'm sorry. Forgive me. Let me hear Your
voice. Lord, forgive me. Lord, have
mercy. Lord, help me. Holy Spirit, You
that has promised to help me Help me. That's the heart, that's
the voice of a believer. And the scripture reveals that
the Lord hears. That's the amazing thing. Listen,
2 Chronicles 7, 12. And the Lord appeared to Solomon
by night and said unto them, now listen, I have heard thy
prayer. And have chosen this place to
myself for a house of sacrifice. Oh, how sweet, according to his
word, is his desire to hear the voice. That heart's expression
of his dove to his people as they speak to him by faith, stammering
as we do, said, I want to see your beauty. I want to see your comeliness. Let me hear thy voice. You know, you recognize the voice
of your beloved. At home, I see my wife. I come home from the church and
I see her and I talk to her. But you know, I get away just,
I've only been away about 24 hours, you know. It's not that
long. Well, that's a long time. when
you miss seeing her. And right now, all I can do is
I can pick up a telephone, and all I can do right now is hear
her voice. But you know, when I talk to
her, I recognize that's her. That's her. She talks. She talks like my
wife. She talks as one that loves me,
and I love her. Let me hear your voice. Let me see your beauty, for sweet
is thy voice, the voice that calls upon Him. She comes as
a needy sinner. She comes as one that desires
His company, His presence. I want to talk to Him. I want
to fellowship with Him. Sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance
is beautiful, is comely. Oh, may the Lord this evening
grant us just a moment to behold by faith that which he has said
that we are to him. He said, you're mine, darling.
You're mine. Your mind by gift, my Father
gave you to me. And falling in Adam, falling
in Adam's transgression, we're still his. We're still his dove. And he bought us, paid our debt,
made sin for us. Sure, I gave this illustration,
but I'll give it again. If my mother had committed murder
and was sentenced to die in an electric chair, and I truly desired
to spare her some pain, and I said, well, if she's going to die,
I'll die in her place if that'll make any difference. You know, if I took, you know,
her place in that electric chair and they turned on the power
and I was electrocuted and she, you know, loving me as her son,
she'd be there. She'd be there for the electrocution,
you know, to be there for the death. But you know, the only
problem with that is that I didn't do it. And someone would look,
boy, I tell you what, he sure loved his mama, didn't he? Died
in her place. But here's the only problem.
His mama is the one that did it. But if I, Rex, could become
my mother, if I could be made my mother, and actually be made
Marion Stoniker, and die being made her, Now justice is satisfied. Christ was made sin for us. Made what we are. Made sin, he who knew no sin. We might be made the righteousness
of God in Him. And being made the righteousness
of God in Him, He says to his dove, let me see your countenance. It glorifies him. Let me hear
your voice speak. Let me hear that, let me hear
that. Your comeliness, your voice is
sweet. May the Lord be pleased to bless
our hearts tonight with this blessed thought. We are what
we are by the grace of God. For his glory and our good. Amen.