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THE LITTLE FOXES Text: Song of Solomon 2:14-17 · The church is Christ's dove; she returns to him, as her Noah.
· Christ is the Rock, in whom alone she can think herself safe, and find herself easy, as a dove in the hole of a rock, when struck at by the birds of prey. Christ calls her to come boldly to the throne of grace, having a great High Priest there, to tell what her request is. Speak freely, fear not a slight or a repulse. The voice of prayer is sweet and acceptable to God; those who are sanctified have the best comeliness.
· The first risings of sinful thoughts and desires, the beginnings of trifling pursuits which waste the time, trifling visits, small departures from truth, whatever would admit some conformity to the world<ALL THESE, AND MANY MORE, ARE LITTLE FOXES WHICH MUST BE REMOVED. This is a charge to believers to mortify their sinful appetites and passions, which are as little foxes, that destroy their graces and comforts, and crush good beginnings. Whatever we find a hinderance to us in that which is good, we must put away.
· He feedeth among the lilies; this shows Christ's gracious presence among believers. He is kind to all his people. It becomes them to believe this, when under desertion and absence, and so to ward off temptations. The shadows of the Jewish dispensation were dispelled by the dawning of the gospel day. And a day of comfort will come after a night of desertion.
· Come over the mountains of Bether, "the mountains that divide," looking forward to that day of light and love. Christ will come over every separating mountain to take us home to himself.
I. TO BEGIN WITH, WE SEE THAT JESUS HIMSELF IS “THE TRUE VINE”A-John 15:1-I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. B-Revelation 14:18-And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.
II. BELIEVERS, CHRISTIANS ARE BRANCHES IN THE VINE A-John 15:5-I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. B-Romans 11:16-For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. III. AS BRANCHES IN THE VINE, WE ARE TO BEAR FRUIT
A-John 15:1-Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away:and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
B-Psalms 92:13 Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. 14 They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing; 15 To show that the LORD is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.
IV. THE FRUIT WE ARE TO BEAR IS THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
A-Galatians 5:22-But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
B-Ephesians 5:9-(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
V. THE LITTLE FOXES THAT SPOIL THE VINES-Hinder the growth and take away the tender fruit
A-OPEN SINS: We commit this sin when we are unkind, thoughtless, and harsh in our treatment of others.
B-LIP SINS: An undisciplined tongue which does the most harm to the Lord’s vineyard.
1-A lying tongue 2-A critical tongue 3-An unkind tongue 4-A tale-bearing tongue 5-A Gossiping tongue
C-SECRET SINS: Heart Sins-“Create in me a clean heart O God.”
1-Jealosy 2-Pride 3-Impurity |