A Banquet & A Banner

Song of Solomon 2:1-4, "I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys. 2 As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters. 3 As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste. 4 He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love."

Introduction:

The Christian Life is a Banquet and a Banner where we cash in on it or not.

1. The Soul's Rest.

2. The Soul's Feast.

3. The Soul's Banner.

I. The Soul's Rest.

A. Matthew 5:6, "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled."

1. We work up our appetite by working.

2. Many never hunger and thirst after righteousness because they never work.

3. Rest comes after work.

B. We need to Rest The Soul From:

1. The Sense of Sin --- Under the shadow of the Cross.

a. Matthew 1:21, "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins." --- 26:28, "For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins."

b. Our Sins Are Removed Far From Us.

Psalm 103:12, "As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us."

c. Our Sins Are Forgiven.

Romans 4:7, "Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered."

d. Jesus Christ Is Our Advocate.

1 John 2:1-2, "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world."

2. Worry --- Under the shadow of His Care.

a. Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."

b. Luke 12:6-7, "Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? 7 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows."

c. God more concerned about His children than you are about yours.

3. Your Loneliness --- Under the shadow of His Presence.

John 14:16-18, "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you."

II. The Soul's Feast.

The Soul Hungers For And We Need To Feast The Soul Upon:

A. The Peace of God.

John 14:27, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

Philippians 4:7, "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

Proverbs 16:7, "When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him."

B. The Hope --- which is in Christ Jesus Our Lord.

Titus 1:2, "In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;"

Psalm 71:5, "For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth."

Hebrews 6:19, "Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;"

Titus 2:13, "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;"

C. The Joy --- which is in Christ Jesus.

Luke 2:10, "And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people."

1 Peter 1:8, "Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:"

John 16:20, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy."

1 John 3:1-2, "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is."

D. Fellowship --- with God and His People.

Acts 2:42, "And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers."

1 John 1:3, "That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ."

III. The Soul's Banner.

A. Every nation has a Banner (Flag).

B. God's Banner Is Love --- And It Insures Us:

1. His Protection.

1 Peter 1:5, "Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."

2. Eternal Life.

Romans 8:35-39, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 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."

1 Corinthians 15:31, "I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily."

3. A Future Home In Heaven.

John 14:1-3, "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."

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