Song of Songs 4:16.

What makes the difference between a fragrant and a dull Christian life?

The ministry and activity of the Holy Spirit.

Here, in the verse above, the maiden invites her beloved to her garden (heart). Jesus does not come to live in barren, unfruitful hearts/lives. At creation God put man in a pleasant garden to fellowship with Him. 

The maiden wants the spices from her garden to flow out (aroma). The life of Christ is pleasant. It must be transmitted from our hearts.

Spices-ingredients of the Holy Anointing Oil- Exodus 30:22-25, symbol of the Holy Spirit. Note the plants in her garden, 4:14.

 For the fragrance to flow out, wind is necessary - the activity of the Holy Spirit. The maiden invites the wind to blow upon her garden (a call). On the day of Pentecost, He came as a  rushing mighty wind.

Why North and South wind? Proverbs 25:23 (rain). The rain will dampen the fragrance. The Holy Spirit comes from the 'sides of the north' ,God's dwelling  place- Psalm 48:1-2.

The south wind stills the place Job 37:17.

'Let my beloved come.....' If our heart is a pleasant place Christ will come and rest there. He rested  in a garden before and after the Cross.

Pleasant fruits-Galatians 5:22-23, produced naturally by the Holy Spirit. They are 'His fruits' and  'His garden'.

John 5:1-9. The Pool of Bethesda.

A pool with five porches by the sheep gate. A type of the world and its five continents.

The people there, the rejects, the uncared for of this world . Unable to find cure in a world of progress, full of technology and power, but a sin sick world, in lost Eternity. The water speaks of the healing Word of God. An angel came down, once in a while, but we are not told what kind of angel it was, only to remember that this was before Calvary.

An impotent man had been there for 38 years. It seems that nobody cared or was interested in him, like our circumstances. Bur Jesus found him, in all that crowd. He found us, lost in sin, in just the same way. He loved us, and saved us, Rom.5:8, not because we were worthy, but because of God's goodness.

The impotent man's need, after 38 years, looked desperate, a hopeless situation.

'Do you want to be healed?' It seems an illogical question. but many people just want sympathy. Are we satisfied with our little Christianity and church going?

'I have nobody.....'. His faith rested on others, Jer.17:5, not on God. Where does our Faith rest? On works, miracles, experiences? Does our faith move mountains or do they move us?

On the command of Jesus he took up his bed and..... A sign of faith working, he had finished with the place of sin and misery. Why did only one man out of that crowd get healed?

God knew all about us long before we were saved, long before our present need.

The man's heart was ready to receive the word of healing, Rom.8:30.