| THE DOVE Genesis 8:1-12 |
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| As previously noted there are three types of men on the earth: the natural man (lost), the carnal man (saved or lost), and the spiritual man (always saved - the lost man cannot be spiritual). The Dove in teh Word of God is typical of teh Holy Spirit and of His effect in the heart and life of the believer. See also John 1:29-34 I. The Spiritual Man is Characterized by Beauty *Song of Solomon 2:14 - "O my dove...sweet is thy voice, and they countenance is comely." *Song of Solomon 5:2 - "...open to me, my dove, my undefiled..." *Song of Solomon 5:12 - "His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the rivers of water, washed with milk, and fitly set." *Song of Solomon 1:15 - "Behold thou art fair, my love; behold thou are fair; thou has doves eyes." *Song of Solomon 4:1 - "Behold, thou are fair, my love; behold thou art fair; thou has doves eyes within thy locks, thy hair is as a flock of goats that appear from mount Gilead." *Song of Solomon 6:9 - "My dve, my undefiled is but one...she is the choice one of her that bare her." These verses of course refer to the love relationship which exists between Christ and His church. He is a dove of beauty and so is the church, His beloved. This is not so much the outward beauty from outward adornment, but an inner beauty of the heart. See 1 Peter 3:1-4. The believer ought to understand that God both desires and demands that beauty of heart and character. See Ps. 45:9-11 - the wedding song celebrating the union of Christ with His church. II. The Spiritual Man is Characterized by Bearing No Ill Matt. 10:16 - "Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves; be ye there wise as serpents and HARMLESS AS DOVES." See 2 Tim. 2:24 and Rom. 12:9-21. It is totally uncharacteristic of the dove to be agressive and belligerent. So also it uncharacteristic of the Spirit filled Christian. III. The SPiritual Man is Characterized by a Burdened Heart *Isa. 38-14 - "......I did mourn as a dove...." *Isa. 59:11 - "We .....mourn sore like doves...." The dove is noted for the mournful sound which he frequently issues particularly in the early morning and evening. The spiritual man is one upon whose heart the Spirit of God can impress holy burdens for the needs of others. See Ps. 126:5, 6 IV. The Spiritual Man is Characterized by the Breathe of Life *Gen 8:9 - "But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto him into the ark...." The dove does not light on dead things. It is not a scavanger as was the raven of the Genesis account. Everything about the dove bespeaks of life and so also, it is with the Spiritual Man. See Gen. 2:7 and Gen. 2:16, 17, When Adam ate the forbidden fruit, he plunged the entire human race into sin and spiritual death. (Eph. 2:21) When Christ comes into the heart He imparts life again - eternal life and abundant life. See John 10:10 V. The Spiritual Man is Characterized by Bearing Fruit *Gen 8:11 - "And the dove came in to him in the evening; and lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf pluckt off..." It is significant that the leaf plucked was an olive leaf. Olive oil is a type of the Holy Spirit without whom fruit bearing is impossible. See John 15:1-5 and Gal. 5:22, 23 A. Fruit in relation to self - "love, joy, peace" B. Fruit in relation to service - "longsuffering, gentleness, goodness." C. Fruit in relation to the Savior - "faith, meekness, temperance" |
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