https://sermons.crpchalifax.ca/podcasts/198561/ The Mountains of Bether are the things that separate us from the LORD that He overcomes through His gracious work in our lives as we look to Him in faith. Religion & Spirituality Covenant Reformed Presbyterian Church http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification https://vps.sermonaudio.com/resize_image/images/series/1440/1440/198561.1755984154.jpg https://sermons.crpchalifax.ca/podcasts/198561/ en Mon, 06 Apr 2026 22:21:19 +0000 30 Rev. John Shearouse no Rev. John Shearouse office@crpchalifax.ca The Mountains of Bether are the things that separate us from the LORD that He overcomes through His gracious work in our lives as we look to Him in faith. https://sermons.crpchalifax.ca/sermons/525251833576638 Today I am going to finish up our Mountains of Bether Sermon Series. For the final sermon in the Mountains of Bether series, I wanted to present the great barrier that is described in the Song of Songs itself. It is the barrier I am going to call: Ignoring Christ. Let's go to our scripture reading, where we see this barrier of ignoring Christ. Remember that in this Song, Jesus is the Husband and we, the church, are His bride. Listen and see what happens when we ignore Him and His gracious advances. https://sermons.crpchalifax.ca/sermons/525251833576638 Religion & Spirituality Sun, 25 May 2025 12:00:00 +0000 Rev. John Shearouse 0:43:38 no Rev. John Shearouse - Mountains of Bether https://sermons.crpchalifax.ca/sermons/518251828544807 In our Mountains of Bether Sermon Series, we have been looking at the mountains that stand between us and the Lord with a view to asking Him to remove them. The barriers we have been looking at recently are inattention to the means of grace. This week, the barrier is inattention to the Lord's Supper. https://sermons.crpchalifax.ca/sermons/518251828544807 Religion & Spirituality Sun, 18 May 2025 12:00:00 +0000 Rev. John Shearouse 0:43:35 no Rev. John Shearouse - Mountains of Bether https://sermons.crpchalifax.ca/sermons/511251827256004 In our Mountains of Bether Series, we look at things that stand between us and our Lord, barriers that He, by His grace, removes as we look to Him, yearning to be closer to Him. Last week, I pointed out the barrier of Inattention to God's Word. But of course, there are other means of grace besides the word of God preached and read. A means of grace, something that God has given us to use that helps us know Him and live for Him. This week, we will look at inattention to baptism. https://sermons.crpchalifax.ca/sermons/511251827256004 Religion & Spirituality Sun, 11 May 2025 12:00:00 +0000 Rev. John Shearouse 0:41:33 no Rev. John Shearouse - Mountains of Bether https://sermons.crpchalifax.ca/sermons/54251838382866 Today, we come to our 18th message in our Mountains of Bether Series. As believers, we are the bride of Christ. We yearn to have a relationship with Him and the Father that is one of sweet harmony. We grow by the grace of God, that is, by the Lord working in our lives through Jesus by His Spirit. We are not to be passive in receiving God's grace. We are to diligently use the means. The Lord has given us means of grace that we are to use diligently to receive His grace (or divine help) that transforms us in our walk with Him. The primary means He has given us are the Word, sacraments, and prayer. The Word is one of the most important of these. It is by the word that He speaks to us. So today, I want to explore the barrier between us and the Lord of inattention to His Word. https://sermons.crpchalifax.ca/sermons/54251838382866 Religion & Spirituality Sun, 04 May 2025 12:00:00 +0000 Rev. John Shearouse 0:51:14 no Rev. John Shearouse - Mountains of Bether https://sermons.crpchalifax.ca/sermons/427251925546624 Today in our Mountains of Bether Sermon Series, the hinderance in our relationship with God that we are looking at is doubt. Doubt, of course, can be such that it keeps a person from ever coming to Christ—But in this series, we are looking at barriers between us and the Lord that we have after we have been converted. We will do that today. https://sermons.crpchalifax.ca/sermons/427251925546624 Religion & Spirituality Sun, 27 Apr 2025 12:00:00 +0000 Rev. John Shearouse 0:54:22 no Rev. John Shearouse - Mountains of Bether https://sermons.crpchalifax.ca/sermons/421250945122 This afternoon, we will continue our Mountains of Bether sermon series where we are looking at things that come between us and the Lord. This week, the barrier we are looking at is one of those mountains that we often don't notice—in other words, we are blind to it. It is what I am calling the mountain of false peace. I hope that you do cry out to Him when your relationship is dried up. That is a mark of a true believer. https://sermons.crpchalifax.ca/sermons/421250945122 Religion & Spirituality Sun, 20 Apr 2025 12:00:00 +0000 Rev. John Shearouse 0:33:15 no Rev. John Shearouse - Mountains of Bether https://sermons.crpchalifax.ca/sermons/46251822152743 In our afternoon sermon series, we are looking at things that come between us and our Lord. We have looked at quite a few of the mountains that He overcomes—and today it is one mountain which has two opposite barriers that we will find to be essentially the same thing: Worry and Overconfidence—one mountain with two aspects. We might call this Mount Self-trust—which produces both worry and overconfidence. https://sermons.crpchalifax.ca/sermons/46251822152743 Religion & Spirituality Sun, 06 Apr 2025 12:00:00 +0000 Rev. John Shearouse 0:39:48 no Rev. John Shearouse - Mountains of Bether https://sermons.crpchalifax.ca/sermons/33125144553824 The Mountain of Bether we will consider today is Envy. For those who have not been with us for this series, the Mountains of Bether are barriers that stand between us and God that Christ overcomes. https://sermons.crpchalifax.ca/sermons/33125144553824 Religion & Spirituality Sun, 30 Mar 2025 12:00:00 +0000 Rev. John Shearouse 0:43:45 no Rev. John Shearouse - Mountains of Bether https://sermons.crpchalifax.ca/sermons/323252123326566 Today we will continue our sermon series about the things that separate us from God from which Jesus delivers us. According to the scriptures, we are His betrothed bride. One mountain that is especially displeasing to Him is our indifference to one another. Jesus' bride is unique because although she is one bride, one church, she is made up of many members, and Jesus wants us to love one another. We are all brothers. https://sermons.crpchalifax.ca/sermons/323252123326566 Religion & Spirituality Sun, 23 Mar 2025 12:00:00 +0000 Rev. John Shearouse 0:41:17 no Rev. John Shearouse - Mountains of Bether https://sermons.crpchalifax.ca/sermons/321252136484893 This afternoon in our Mountains of Bether Sermon series where we look at things that separate us from God we are looking at 'Lack of Devotion.' This is a Mountain that Jesus our Saviour transforms into a Mountain of Devotion. When I speak of devotion today, I am speak in particular of the devotion to please Him. https://sermons.crpchalifax.ca/sermons/321252136484893 Religion & Spirituality Sun, 16 Mar 2025 12:00:00 +0000 Rev. John Shearouse 0:46:20 no Rev. John Shearouse - Mountains of Bether https://sermons.crpchalifax.ca/sermons/3925184003507 In our afternoon worship service, we are looking at things (Mountains of Bether) that come between us and God and at how Jesus removes them. Today the mountain is "Deficient Praise " whether because it is empty or neglected. We are not looking at all aspects of worship, but specifically at praise: declaring to God and to each other His surpassing sweet excellence as the one who is worthy of all honour and adoration. God rebukes His people for deficient praise in Malachi 1. https://sermons.crpchalifax.ca/sermons/3925184003507 Religion & Spirituality Sun, 09 Mar 2025 12:00:00 +0000 Rev. John Shearouse 0:52:48 no Rev. John Shearouse - Mountains of Bether https://sermons.crpchalifax.ca/sermons/32251944376792 Today in our Mountains of Bether series we are looking at harlotry and wine (intoxication). Our Scripture reading is Hosea 4:11. https://sermons.crpchalifax.ca/sermons/32251944376792 Religion & Spirituality Sun, 02 Mar 2025 12:00:00 +0000 Rev. John Shearouse 0:51:57 no Rev. John Shearouse - Mountains of Bether https://sermons.crpchalifax.ca/sermons/223251926304048 In this sermon series, we have been looking at some of those mountain barriers that are called Mountains of Bether and at how He overcomes them. Today the barrier we are considering is discontentment. https://sermons.crpchalifax.ca/sermons/223251926304048 Religion & Spirituality Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:00:00 +0000 Rev. John Shearouse 0:44:28 no Rev. John Shearouse - Mountains of Bether https://sermons.crpchalifax.ca/sermons/216251917397283 In our afternoon sermon series, we have been looking at the mountains that are between us and God that Christ overcomes. They are like mountains that stand between us and Him. The Mountain we are looking at today is the Mountain of Deficient Fear of God. Job is commended by God as a man that fears Him. In Job 28, Job tells us about the importance of fearing God. https://sermons.crpchalifax.ca/sermons/216251917397283 Religion & Spirituality Sun, 16 Feb 2025 12:00:00 +0000 Rev. John Shearouse 0:37:13 no Rev. John Shearouse - Mountains of Bether https://sermons.crpchalifax.ca/sermons/29251946304104 In the afternoons, we have been looking at mountains that stand between us and the Lord. We are fallen creatures in a fallen world, and even after we have been converted, there are things that hinder our relationship with the Lord. In this series we are looking at how Jesus overcomes these mountains. The mountain that we are looking at today is one that is radically removed at conversion, but that still haunts us, as it were, and that we ask Christ to further eradicate from our lives. It is Self-Righteousness. When you come to Christ you renounce your own righteousness, but some of it still remains in you and sometimes you get a new supply of it! https://sermons.crpchalifax.ca/sermons/29251946304104 Religion & Spirituality Sun, 09 Feb 2025 12:00:00 +0000 Rev. John Shearouse 0:53:54 no Rev. John Shearouse - Mountains of Bether https://sermons.crpchalifax.ca/sermons/12625194935388 Today in our Mountains of Bether sermon series, we are looking at Bitterness. In particular, bitterness toward other people who have wronged us (or those we perceive to have wronged us). https://sermons.crpchalifax.ca/sermons/12625194935388 Religion & Spirituality Sun, 26 Jan 2025 12:00:00 +0000 Rev. John Shearouse 0:47:34 no Rev. John Shearouse - Mountains of Bether https://sermons.crpchalifax.ca/sermons/119251930294774 In our afternoon sermon series, I have been preaching on things that separate us (Mountains of Bether) from the Lord and how He overcomes them. The main focus here is not on what we must do when we are separated from Him, but on what He does to overcome the things that separate us. Today the barrier we are considering is prayerlessness. https://sermons.crpchalifax.ca/sermons/119251930294774 Religion & Spirituality Sun, 19 Jan 2025 12:00:00 +0000 Rev. John Shearouse 0:38:52 no Rev. John Shearouse - Mountains of Bether https://sermons.crpchalifax.ca/sermons/1525193726723 As we get into this series, I have noted that there are mountains of significantly different kinds that separate us from Him as believers. Unconfessed sin is quite different than affliction, but both are barriers that He overcomes. Today we look at a mountain that is more of a condition: worldliness. He overcomes it too. https://sermons.crpchalifax.ca/sermons/1525193726723 Religion & Spirituality Sun, 05 Jan 2025 12:00:00 +0000 Rev. John Shearouse 0:48:19 no Rev. John Shearouse - Mountains of Bether https://sermons.crpchalifax.ca/sermons/122924202036561 The topic in our Mountains of Bether sermon series today is Affliction. In case you have not been with us, the Mountains of Bether are Mountains of Separation. Today's topic falls into a very different category. Affliction is something that is done to us while sin (and failure to confess it) is something that we do. In Christ's hands, both sin and affliction separate us from God initially, but in the end bring us closer to Him. https://sermons.crpchalifax.ca/sermons/122924202036561 Religion & Spirituality Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:00:00 +0000 Rev. John Shearouse 0:52:08 no Rev. John Shearouse - Mountains of Bether https://sermons.crpchalifax.ca/sermons/12222421874554 Last week we started a new afternoon Sermon Series called The Mountains of Bether. The Mountains of Bether are used in the Song of Solomon to refer to the barriers that stand between us and Jesus Christ our bridegroom. In Song 2:17, we ask Him to come to us as He has done in the past—like a gazelle (agility) or a young stag (passion) to get through whatever has come between us and Him. When He does, those mountains that separated us are transformed into mountains of spice—sweet monuments of His all-conquering love that unites us to Himself. This week, we are looking at the "mountain" of unconfessed sin. https://sermons.crpchalifax.ca/sermons/12222421874554 Religion & Spirituality Sun, 22 Dec 2024 12:00:00 +0000 Rev. John Shearouse 0:52:18 no Rev. John Shearouse - Mountains of Bether https://sermons.crpchalifax.ca/sermons/1215242111474970 Today I am starting a new afternoon sermon series. In this series, we will look at the things that separate us from God and how Christ closes the gap between us and Him as our faithful bridegroom (if we are indeed His bride). There are so many things that have created a distance between us and God, but He deals with every one of them. https://sermons.crpchalifax.ca/sermons/1215242111474970 Religion & Spirituality Sun, 15 Dec 2024 12:00:00 +0000 Rev. John Shearouse 0:50:35 no Rev. John Shearouse - Mountains of Bether