Cheeks As A Bed Of Spices And Li

Cheeks As A Bed Of Spices And Lips Dripping Sweet Smelling Myrrh.

The Bride’s Portrait Of Jesus- Part 3

The times ahead will require a deep love and true devotion to Jesus unlike at any time in our history. Those who think they 'stand' need to know that their love will be tested in these last hours before the Lord comes. The apostasy of the age has always sought to substitute true love for Jesus for new age philosophy and humanism. Nothing can be exchanged for a burning heart for Jesus. He is truly 'my beloved, chief among ten thousand.' In Song of Solomon, the bride gives one of the most powerful descriptions of Jesus. It is a magnificent, poetic unveiling of the splendor of Christ Jesus and an outstanding statement of true intimate biblical love for Jesus. It is the restoration of the first commandment which will be the catalyst for true revival in these last days.

TEXT: Song 5:10-13 - My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand. [11] His head is as the most fine gold, his locks are bushy, and black as a raven. [12] His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the rivers of waters, washed with milk, and fitly set. [13] His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers: his lips like lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh.

This portion of scripture continues the Bride's portrait of Jesus – “His cheeks are like a bed of spices, banks of scented herbs.” Cheeks express the countenance of one's face because the cheeks are windows to the emotions, enabling others to know whether a person is joyful, sad or angry. A person's cheeks can tell you what kind of mood he or she is in. The cheeks reveal the internal emotional state and reveal the inner beauty of the countenance. Christ's cheeks are like a bed of spices, which points to the diversity of His passion, pleasures and delights.

It's like a garden of beautiful, fragrant spices. They express His emotions that are diverse, beautiful and give wide range to pleasure and delight. The song says that Jesus’ cheeks are also like banks of scented herbs, speaking to us of the extravagant fragrance and diversity of His affections. Sweet-smelling flowers in full blossom suggest a most delightful garden. THIS IS THE EMOTIONAL MAKEUP OF JESUS! His passion runs deep for YOU, His LONGING eternal for YOU and His delight without conditions for You.

It is imperative we grasp this truth that Jesus is FOR us, not against us even in our most horrible weakness and darkness. Even when the tears try to come and they don’t come because we are so hurt inside. Even when the hurt is so bad that you lay awake at night, looking into space, wandering whether you're even alive or not. Even when the pain of life hits you like a juggernaut and you wish you were not even alive. Even when the darkness of night surrounds us inwardly as well as outwardly and we find ourselves not sure what day it is. Even when our families, friends and loved ones never grasp the pain we're feeling – JESUS IS FOR US. His love runs that deep. HIS CHEEKS are like a bed of spices, banks of scented herbs!

The message of love is the message of the New Covenant. It is the very nature of God and His Son. The Son made it clear that it was LOVE that made us HIS, not great faith, great gifts or anything else. It was LOVE. Love is the power of the universe and it's the language of the Kingdom. We may move mountains and even cast out devils, but if our hearts are void of God's love, we are worshipping and ministering in vain.

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. [2] And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. [3] And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. [4] Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, [5] Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

Look at the references to love just in the book of John, which most scholars look to as the one gospel that points to Christ’s DEITY, more than any of the other three:

This is not a normal human love, it's a supernatural love. It's the type love that reaches out to a sinful human race with the good news that Christ came to die for sinners and all those who put their faith in HIM and HIS FINISHED WORK shall be saved! It's not that He will forgive us, He's already forgiven us! He's wrote the check and signed it neighbor! All we have to do is accept it by faith. The price has been paid. The power of sin has been broken. The powers of darkness can be stripped off your life today. You can be free!

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

What am I telling you? I'm telling you that HE LOVES YOU friend. I don't care how bad things have gotten. I don't care how deep the hurt is. I don't care how ugly the sin is. I don't care how much loss and suffering sin has brought to your life. HE IS ABLE to set you free today because of His LOVE for you. His love is not based upon conditions, like most churches base their codes of acceptance of others upon. It's an unconditional love that says, "“I love you enough to bring the truth and use that truth to set you free!"

John 8:32-33
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
[33] They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?

True love, agape love that is, NEVER condones sin. It don’t gloss over man's failures and unbelief. It declares man a sinner but not outside the scope of God's grace and power. Love points man to the cross of Christ where the power of sin was broken and all of hell's legal grounds to keep man in bondage were destroyed.

I tell you this right now. If you die and go to hell friend, you will stumble over the body and the blood of Jesus Christ! You will stumble over the fact that you were so close to eternal life, yet you refused to obey and believe. It's not that the gospel accepts people as they are, it's that the gospel accepts people as they are AND CHANGES THEM INTO THE IMAGE OF CHRIST BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY GHOST! The modern "moralism" method of preaching tells you - "come to Christ and do your best." Friend you can't DO your best. Your best is as filthy rags in His sight. He doesn't care about your best, He cares about your FAITH in the finished work of HIS SON - JESUS CHRIST! He cares about your HEART!

Many homosexuals use unconditional love as a cloak for their sin. That's deception. God's unconditional love does not replace His holiness. This passion of Jesus is His delight to do the Father's will, to see the increase of His kingdom AND HIS HOLINESS. ALL three are intertwined. The reason the Father rejoices over the Son is the fact that the SON HATES INIQUITY and LOVES RIGHTEOUSNESS.

God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, [2] Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; [3] Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; [4] Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. [5] For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? [6] And again, when he bringeth in the first begotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. [7] And of the angels he saith, Who makes his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. [8] But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom. [9] Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

His cheeks speaks to us of HIS HOLY PASSION for us. The Father LOVES the SON and the SON loves the FATHER. If we say we love God and don't love Jesus, we are liars. That's really the noose around the church's theological neck today. Much of the gospel that is preached speaks of a God in generic terms. Terms like "the man upstairs," a "higher power than ourselves," are but catch phrases of a New Age onslaught of humanism that has choked out the true preaching of the gospel.

The TRUE GOSPEL points us to the Cross of Christ, the only path to eternal life. The true gospel declares man a SINNER and points him to his only source of salvation – the Lord Jesus Christ. We preach Christ and Him Crucified! No other name under heaven is given whereby we are saved. That is not an “addendum” to our doctrinal belief. It IS the doctrine we grab hold to and from there allow all other doctrine to develop. Any doctrine not built on this foundation is false and will lead you to error if not worse. The horror of these false doctrines today is that most are tinkering with the very message that determines ETERNITY for millions. Eternity is not something to be tampered with preacher. You are a hireling, a wolf in sheep's clothing if you are preaching any gospel that has man as the center of the concept of salvation - no matter how “scriptural” or “Christian” it sounds. There is only ONE WAY to the Father and that is the SON He loves supremely.

John 6: 35-40, 57-58, 65 - [35] And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. [36] But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not. [37] All that the Father gives me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. [38] For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. [39] And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. [40] And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. [57] As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. [58] This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever. [65] And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true. [34] For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God gives not the Spirit by measure unto him. [35] The Father loves the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. [36] He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides on him.

H's not the man up stairs,” the “big Cheese,” or any other slang, He is the SON OF LIVING GOD! He's the Chiefest Among 10,000, the Bright and the Morning Star, the Lily of the Valley, the First and the Last; HE IS THE CHRIST, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD. We are loved by Him and therefore, we are lovers of Him. That is our primary purpose on this earth - nothing else. It’s not our purpose to be driven to succeed with an anointed ministry, a breakthrough in finances, a couple of good friends, health or even strength. All of these are great to have in this life without a doubt, but the Spirit’s job is to lead us into a loving relationship and romance with the purchaser of our souls-the Lord Jesus.

That is why the political correctness of the body of Christ today as it regards other gods and other religions is condemning millions to hell. If one's faith is not in Christ and Him crucified and that alone – - that individual is LOST friend! Make no mistake about it. I'm not anyone's judge and neither are you, but the WORD that is spoken will judge us all in the end.

If loving Jesus is secondary or a labor to us, then the rewards of the Kingdom become our main focus. In other words our main concern is how much anointing is on our ministry, how much money we have, the condition of our health, the number of people we influence and minister to and the list goes on and on. And if we will be honest with ourselves that is really what is behind the Purpose Driven life message. It’s not a message that brings people into a love relationship with Jesus, it’s a message that diverts its hearer from being a LOVER first and allowing Jesus to produce in us whatever He so desires. It is a false gospel friend that will lead to hell.

This is what His cheeks speak of – HIS PASSION for us and the PASSION we must have for Him. It also speaks of the Father’s delight in the Son and the Son’s delight in the Father, as well as the Father’s passion and pleasure over His creation. This is the center issue surrounding the coming harvest in the end times. God is going to do something so big that the modern church is going to just stand by and gasp. It’s not going to be a political overhaul, a education overhaul or a economic overhaul of the human race. It’s going to a SPIRITUAL overhaul of humanity where millions of people are coming into a saving knowledge of Christ. Those days are ahead along with great judgment. Glory and trouble are on the way.

His Lips

His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers: his lips like lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh.

Verse 13 also says that His lips are like lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh. Lips speak of His Word and His mouth speaks of His communication and intimacy. This refers to the power of HIS WORD.

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: [20] Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. [21] For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

The Holy Spirit through the pen of Solomon says His words are like two things: they are like lilies and they are dripping liquid myrrh. Lilies are sweet and satisfying. Psalms 19:10 says God’s words are “sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.” When our hearts desire is to obey Him, His word is sweet and satisfying. The Bible comes alive when the heart’s intent is to obey Him 100 percent. That’s when the Word becomes sweet.

In contrast, if we deliberately resist His Word to us and reject the Holy Spirit’s counsel, the Word becomes dull and dead to our hearts. It loses it sweetness and no longer satisfies as the lilies, which are fragrant, innocent and tender. It will be this same Word that judges us in the last days. The Father committed judgment to the Son who committed judgment to HIS WORD – that is how important His word is to us today!

He that rejecteth me, and receives not my words, hath one that judges him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

John 5:20-31 - For the Father loves the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will show him greater works than these, that ye may marvel. [21] For as the Father raises up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. [22] For the Father judges no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: [27] And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. [28] Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,

Jesus words are also compared to dripping liquid myrrh. He does not just give us the sweet, refreshing affirmation and fragrance of the lilies but also myrrh, which involves SUFFERING. Myrrh and frankincense were used as burial spices. The fragrance comes as we embrace death to the flesh so that we might find resurrection in the grace of God. His words have the fragrance of the lilies, but they also drip with myrrh. Jesus knows how to give tough love and correction. God the Father not only tells you that things are good, but as a loving Father, He also tells you when to stop and how to change. Since Christ and the Father do the same thing so does CHRIST speak to us as well for it is the SON THROUGH WHOM THE FATHER IS SPEAKING IN THESE LAST DAYS!

God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spoke in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; [3] Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: [6] For whom the Lord loves he chasteneth, and scourges every son whom he receives.

Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: [18] I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. [19] As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. [20] Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. [21] To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. [22] He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

The words of correction that God gives bring us life. His Word challenges us to die to ourselves in a greater way so we can be a more mature member of the Bride of Christ. In Malachi 2:17, the Lord told Israel their words wearied Him because they were calling evil good and good evil. The words of God’s people are sometimes too affirming. Too often we refuse to call sin sin when that’s exactly what it is. That is a serious serious scourge on the modern gospel being preached by most churches today. The pulpits have stopped preaching anything but a self-help gospel that affirms man’s sinfulness instead of confronting it with the Word of God and the blood of Christ.

Some of us just do not posses the ability to speak the words that have myrrh in them; we only speak the words with lilies. To be like JESUS, we must speak both. We need to discern between good and evil, as God has done in His word. It's a sign of maturity!

Ye have wearied the Lord with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?

Hebrews 5:11-14 - Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. [12] For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. [13] For every one that uses milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. [14] But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

His mouth is most sweet. This speaks to us of the communication of His intimacy. Jesus wants to impact spiritual intimacy with His bride in these last days. Spiritually, the Lord wants to release the kisses of His word as the bride cried out in Song of Solomon 1:1-3. This speaks of Jesus releasing the grace of intimacy by enlarging our capacity to receive more of God. You see you can’t do this on your own. HE has to enlarge our hearts today. The HOLY SPIRIT must set a seal upon our heart to draw close to God!

The song of songs, which is Solomon's. [2] Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine. [3] Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee.

How blessed is the one God chooses to draw near to Himself. Seasons come when Jesus tenderly draws us near, but there are other times of prayer when we do not feel Him drawing us closer. In one respect, He is always near us and we always have access to the throne of God and grace. The most powerful experience a human being can have is when God allows the human spirit to see even a glimpse of the Heavenly Bridegroom in His beauty and splendor.

No amount of money in the universe can substitute for the moment when the Bridegroom kisses us with the kisses of His mouth. NOTHING can substitute for the moment when we taste His love for us, being better than wine. NOTHING can substitute when we hear His name in our spirit man and feel the ointment poured forth that brings healing to our hurting hearts.

Neighbor, your marriage dilemma that is about to destroy your home has only one answer to it – and that’s the name of Jesus as ointment poured forth. When HE SPEAKS, HEALING begins. We He speaks, DEVILS FLEE. When we hear HIS name – depression goes. When we hear HIS NAME, joy returns to our salvation experience. WHEN WE HEAR HIS NAME AS OINTMENT POURED FORTH we truly LOVE HIM, as we ought to love Him and that is with our whole heart, our whole mind and our whole body. WHEN HIS NAME IS SPOKEN, the sick are healed, souls are saved, and believers are baptized in the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking with other tongues. WHEN HIS NAME IS SPOKEN, all of heaven and the universe stand in attention. My Lord, I hope you’re shouting with me on this right now J

Because of HIS BLOOD that He shed for us, we will see Him for all eternity one day. But because of that same BLOOD, we have the HOLY SPIRIT on earth who was sent to show HIM TO US TODAY! We see him not with natural eyes right now, but with spiritual eyes. Spiritual things are revealed to spiritual people. The carnal man will never understand the things of God. He is calling us today to a love for Him that is so consuming that we will lead others in the way. The flames of spiritual pleasure we feel when we hear His words, whether they be the sweet lilies or the correction of myrrh, will either enrage us, or it will ignite a greater love in our hearts that burns within us who are already touched by His love.

If we have the right relationship with Him, all other things will fall into place. Our doctrines, our focus, our passions, our treasure, our heart and our MONEY will all be anchored in HIM if we are in love with HIM – because He first loved us.

Proverbs 2:4-5 - If thou seekest her as silver, and searches for her as for hid treasures; [5] Then shall thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.

Proverbs 2:4-5 challenges us today to seek the Lord as silver. We must seek after Him with ALL our hearts – especially in the times we live in. Neighbor there is so much happening on a daily basis that I can assure you that 12 months from now there is absolutely no telling where we will be as a nation and as the Body of Christ here in America. I hear a distant thunder that calls to us today that warns us that judgment is coming. I hear the sounds of the rains of the HOLY GHOST that are coming too that tell a sleeping, backslidden church to come back to the CROSS where the true source of ALL power rests.

The CROSS OF CHRIST is where the debt of sin was paid and the power of sin was broken. It’s where we were married to HIM! It’s where we knelt at an altar one day in our past and said, “LORD, I’m a sinner and not worthy to be part of your Bride.” But it’s also where He reached down with blood-stained hands, lifted us up out of the pit of hell itself and put a garment on us promising to prepare us in this life for the day when we celebrate this marriage – the marriage Supper of the Lamb!

Rev. 19:6- And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. [7] Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. [8] And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. [9] And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. [10] And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.