Rise Up My Love, My Fair One, and Come Away
The sermon calls believers to rise above worldliness and sinful desires, and to come away to a deeper relationship with God.
C.H. Spurgeon passionately calls believers to awaken from spiritual slumber, emphasizing the invitation from the Beloved to rise above worldly distractions and embrace a higher calling. He reflects on the beauty of being called 'My love' and 'fair one' by God, which serves as motivation to leave behind the mundane and pursue a deeper relationship with Him. Spurgeon acknowledges the struggle against sin and worldly ties but expresses a longing to be drawn closer to God, recognizing that true fulfillment lies in His presence. The sermon highlights the transformative power of God's grace and the Holy Spirit in enabling believers to rise and come away from the chaos of life. Ultimately, it is a call to find rest and purpose in the divine embrace of the Lord.
Text
Lo, I hear the voice of my Beloved! He speaks to me! Fair weather is smiling upon the face of the earth, and He would not have me spiritually asleep while nature is all around me awaking from her winter's rest. He bids me "Rise up," and well He may, for I have long enough been lying among the pots of worldliness. He is risen, I am risen in Him, why then should I cleave unto the dust? From lower loves, desires, pursuits, and aspirations, I would rise towards Him. He calls me by the sweet title of "My love," and counts me fair; this is a good argument for my rising.
If He has thus exalted me, and thinks me thus comely, how can I linger in the tents of Kedar and find congenial associates among the sons of men? He bids me "Come away." Further and further from everything selfish, grovelling, worldly, sinful, He calls me; yea, from the outwardly religious world which knows Him not, and has no sympathy with the mystery of the higher life, He calls me. "Come away" has no harsh sound in it to my ear, for what is there to hold me in this wilderness of vanity and sin?
O my Lord, would that I could come away, but I am taken among the thorns, and cannot escape from them as I would. I would, if it were possible, have neither eyes, nor ears, nor heart for sin. Thou callest me to Thyself by saying "Come away," and this is a melodious call indeed. To come to Thee is to come home from exile, to come to land out of the raging storm, to come to rest after long labour, to come to the goal of my desires and the summit of my wishes. But Lord, how can a stone rise, how can a lump of clay come away from the horrible pit?
O raise me, draw me. Thy grace can do it. Send forth Thy Holy Spirit to kindle sacred flames of love in my heart, and I will continue to rise until I leave life and time behind me, and indeed come away.
Sermon Outline
- The Call to Rise Up
- The Exalted Position
- The Call to Come Away
- The Possibility of Coming Away
- The longing to escape sin
- The need for divine intervention
Key Quotes
“Lo, I hear the voice of my Beloved!” — C.H. Spurgeon
“To come to Thee is to come home from exile, to come to land out of the raging storm, to come to rest after long labour, to come to the goal of my desires and the summit of my wishes.” — C.H. Spurgeon
“Send forth Thy Holy Spirit to kindle sacred flames of love in my heart, and I will continue to rise until I leave life and time behind me, and indeed come away.” — C.H. Spurgeon
Application Points
- Believers should seek to rise above their current state and seek a higher life in Christ.
- The Holy Spirit is necessary for enabling believers to overcome sin and come away to God.
- The ultimate goal of believers should be to come away to God and leave their sinful life behind.