Rejoicing & Remembrance
Notes
Transcript
Welcome—Turn to Ecc Ch. 11
Opening Prayer
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Introduction: Human Forgetfulness
Introduction: Human Forgetfulness
As HUMAN BEINGS we can be FRAUGHT with FORGETFULNESS, and I hear it only gets better as you age.
WALK INTO a ROOM—FORGET WHY?
IMPORTANT TO-DO LIST ITEMS FORGOTTEN
(Q) EVER FORGET SOMETHING SIGNIFICANT on a TRIP?
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Personal Ex.: FORGETTING my WALLET —CAPE HENLOPEN
— ADDED to SENSE of ADVENTURE!
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Focus: BEYOND GENERAL FORGETFULNESS— TASKS, PACKING,
— THERE ARE IMPORTANT THINGS WE CAN’T LOSE SIGHT OF & FORGET
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Transition: TODAY’S TEXT WILL REMIND US of A FEW THINGS WE CAN’T AFFORD to FORGET
PASSAGE READING: CH. 11 V. 7- - 12:8
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Scripture Reading: Ecclesiastes 11:7–12:8
Scripture Reading: Ecclesiastes 11:7–12:8
Ecclesiastes 11:7–12:8 (ESV)
7 Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun.
8 So if a person lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember that the days of darkness will be many. All that comes is vanity.
9 Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.
10 Remove vexation from your heart, and put away pain from your body, for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.
1 Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”;
2 before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain,
3 in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look through the windows are dimmed,
4 and the doors on the street are shut—when the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low—
5 they are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and desire fails, because man is going to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets—
6 before the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern,
7 and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
8 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity.
GOD’S WORD for US THIS MORNING...
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Context Recap: Uncontrolled Outcomes
Context Recap: Uncontrolled Outcomes
Recent Wks:
WISDOM VS. FOLLY
Last Wk:
WORLD FILLED W/ UNCERTAINTIES— NEED for ACTION
IF YOU WATCH CLOUDS—YOU’LL NEVER SOW/REAP— AN ACT of FOLLY
AVOIDING PARALYSIS of the ANALYSIS— ACT W/ FAITH
DO YOUR BEST, TRUST GOD W/ the REST
SOW in MORNING, EVENING — YOU DON’T KNOW WHICH WILL PROSPER
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Transition: TEACHER TRANSITIONS TODAY to NEW TOPIC—NEARING CONCLUSION of BOOK
TO BEGIN,, HE’LL POINT OUT the NEED for REJOICING in LIFE
LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 1-2
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Passage Exposition
Passage Exposition
1. Rejoicing in Life (Ecclesiastes 11:7–8)
1. Rejoicing in Life (Ecclesiastes 11:7–8)
Ecclesiastes 11:7–8 (ESV)
7 Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun.
8 So if a person lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember that the days of darkness will be many. All that comes is vanity.
Background: TEACHER FREQUENTLY BEMOANS LIFE UNDER the SUN
RAW W/ DIFFICULTIES & STRUGGLES of LIFE
—> YET,, HE RECOGNIZES BLESSING of “SEEING the SUN”
**YOU CAN’T SEE the SUN WHEN YOU’RE UNDER the GROUND**
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EACH & EVERY DAY = GIFT from GOD.
Exhort: GOD WOKE YOU UP THIS MORNING
BREATH in YOUR LUNGS
**WHAT a GIFT!**
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Testimony: CHANGING DAILY OUTLOOK—
Psalm 118:24 (ESV)
24 This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
TODAY = GIFT from GOD I DIDN’T DESERVE—
— IT’S PLEASANT for the EYES to SEE the SUN
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(V8) TRUE of EACH DAY— CERTAINLY TRUE of YEARS
LIVE MANY YEARS?? REJOICE in THEM ALL!
Every Day:
OPPORTUNITY to ENJOY GOD’S GOODNESS
REFLECT on HIS HAND in CREATION & WORSHIP HIM
DO SOMETHING for HIS KINGDOM
Takeaway: LONGER YOU LIVE— MORE BLESSINGS YOU HAVE
LIFE CAN BE TOUGH
PAINFUL MEMORIES
—> EACH YEAR — WE ALL HAVE MORE GOOD MEMORIES THAN BEFORE <—
HELPFUL PERSPECTIVE
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Ex.: SADLY, I’VE BEEN TOLD MANY TIMES NOT to GET OLD
REALLY MEANS: “DIE YOUNG”
GOD’S WORD SAYS—REJOICE in EVERY DAY, EVERY YEAR GIVEN...
Church, when TOMORROW ISN’T PROMISED to any of us,,
we should be THANKFUL FOR EACH TOMORROW HE’S GIVEN to us.
COULD BE LAST SUMMER—LAST HOLIDAY—LAST…
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(V8b) Reasoning (to rejoice): MANY DAYS of DARKNESS COMING
Background: REMEMBER—TEACHER DOESN’T KNOW of AFTERLIFE
SPIRIT of MAN UPWARDS, BEAST DOWNWARDS?
Takeaway: REGARDLESS— DEATH is CERTAIN,, SO ENJOY GIFT of LIFE—WHILE YOU HAVE IT.
LIFE MIGHT FLY BY
MIGHT BE FILLED W/ THINGS YOU’D CHANGE
BUT GOD is STILL GOOD—
— & IT’S PLEASANT for EYES to SEE the SUN
SO REJOICE in EVERY DAY!
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Transition: AFTER ADDRESSING THOSE W/ MANY YEARS—
HE’S NOW GOING to ADDRESS THOSE W/ FEWER...
LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 9-10
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2. Rejoicing in Youth (Ecclesiastes 11:9–10)
2. Rejoicing in Youth (Ecclesiastes 11:9–10)
Ecclesiastes 11:9–10 (ESV)
9 Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.
10 Remove vexation from your heart, and put away pain from your body, for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.
THOSE W/ MANY YEARS—REJOICE in the MANY
THOSE W/ FEWER— REJOICE in PRIME of LIFE.
ENJOY the BLESSINGS of YOUNGER AGE
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(V9b) WALK in WAYS of YOUR HEART— FOLLOW YOUR DESIRES — YET WITHIN the FEAR of GOD
(V9c) GOD WILL BRING YOU INTO JUDGMENT
***Necessary Balance***
GOD ISN’T a COSMIC KILL-JOY
ECC. CH. 9— GOD FINDS JOY in OUR JOY
JOY = EMOTION HE CREATED
GOD WILL JUDGE SIN
Romans 6:1 (ESV)
1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? BY NO MEANS! MAY IT NEVER HAPPEN!
ENJOY LIFE/ ENJOY YOUTH— BUT WALK in the FEAR of GOD
Quote, Philip Ryken, “REJOICE RESPONSIBLY”
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GOD SET BOUNDARIES of RIGHT & WRONG— BUT YOU CAN LIVE AN UPRIGHT LIFE & ENJOY IT.
Testimony: Goal of Coudy YOUTH GROUP— YOU CAN HAVE a GREAT TIME W/ GOD
BIBLE ISN’T a RULE-BOOK to TAKE ALL FUN FROM LIFE
WE MADE TONS of GREAT MEMORIES —
— ALL COMPLETELY CLEAN
—NO SIN NEEDED!
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YOUNG PEOPLE: GOD CREATED JOY & ENJOYMENT—IT’S NOT HIS GOAL to KEEP US MISERABLE.
Illustration: PARENTS CONSTANTLY HAVE to TELL KIDS NO— FOR THEIR OWN GOOD
MANY KIDS WOULD WATCH TV/VIDEOGAMES ALL DAY
EAT ICE CREAM 3 MEALS a DAY
PARENTS SAY NO—NOT BECAUSE WE HATE OUR KIDS—
— BUT BECAUSE WE LOVE THEM && KNOW THOSE THINGS AREN’T GOOD FOR THEM
Point: HOW MUCH MORE—DOES OUR HEAVENLY FATHER KNOW WHAT’S BEST for US???
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Takeaway: TEACHER CONCLUDES— ENJOY YOUR YOUTH—BUT DO SO in FEAR of GOD,, NOT RECKLESSLY
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(v10) TEACHER ALSO ADMONISHES— REMOVE VEXATION & PAIN from LIFE
DON’T LET ANXIETIES RUIN YOUR YOUTH
DON’T LET PAIN RUIN YOUR YOUTH
SURELY THAT’S COMING DOWN the ROAD
**TAKE CARE of YOURSELF—DON’T TRASH YOUR BODY**
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Reason: YOUTH & DAWN of LIFE = VANITY
Background: REMEMBER VANITY = MIST/VAPOR
TEACHER REASONS— YOUTH WILL GONE QUICKLY— IT’S FLEETING...
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Personal Ex.: WHEN PEOPLE GET OLD = LINE THAT KEEPS MOVING
30 USED to BE OLD—BUT NOW I’M 30— IT’S NOT OLD
WE ALL AGE— QUICKLY— & IT GETS FASTER EVERY YEAR I’M TOLD...
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Takeaway: CHERISH YOUNG AGE—SOON YOU’LL BE OLDER—OLDER—OLDER— AND LIFE WILL END...
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Transition: AS SUCH,, TEACHER WILL CONCLUDE in CH 12:1-8...
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3. Remembering Your Creator in Youth (Ecclesiastes 12:1–8)
3. Remembering Your Creator in Youth (Ecclesiastes 12:1–8)
Ecclesiastes 12:1–8 (ESV)
1 Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”;
2 before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain,
3 in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look through the windows are dimmed,
4 and the doors on the street are shut—when the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low—
5 they are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and desire fails, because man is going to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets—
6 before the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern,
7 and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
8 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity.
TEACHER W/ MANY METAPHORS DESCRIBES OLD AGE,, LIKENS IT to OLD HOUSE in SOME WAYS
SUNLIGHT & MOON DARKENING == DARK DAYS COMING
KEEPERS of HOUSE TREMBLING == OLD WEAK ARMS
STRONG MEN BENT == LEGS NO LONGER STRAIGHT
WHAT USED to CARRY OTHERS NOW BARELY CARRIES YOU
GRINDERS CEASING/FEW = FEWER TEETH
WINDOWS DIMMED == EYESIGHT LEAVING
DOORS SHUT == HEARING LOSS
MOST SOUNDS ARE LOW—YET BIRDS COULD WAKE YOU UP— INSOMNIA
HIGH PLACES/ WAY,, FRIGHTFUL = FEAR of FALLING
ALMOND TREE BLOSSOMING = WHITE HAIR
GRASSHOPPER DRAGGING
GRASSHOPPERS WERE MADE to HOP!
OLD AGE—GRASSHOPPER DON’T HOPE NO MORE..
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MAN = GOING to HIS ETERNAL HOME—THE GRAVE.
(V6) SILVER CORD BREAKS— LAMP FALLS to the GROUND — REFERS to DEATH
NO MORE ABILITY to DRAW WATER—WHEEL BROKEN @ CISTERN
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Conclusion:
DUST RETURNS to EARTH
SPIRIT/BREATH RETURNS to GOD
Main Point: IN LIGHT of ALL THAT’S COMING— REMEMBER GOD NOW
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Young People: REMEMBER GOD,, YOUR CREATOR,, BEFORE THESE DAYS COME!
YES, ENJOY YOUR LIFE. BUT DON’T FORGET GOD
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FOR MANY—PROSPERITY = GREAT THREAT to SPIRITUALITY
LIFE = GOOD, GOD = FORGOTTEN
TEACHER: REMEMBER YOUR CREATOR.
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SO MANY in YOUTH— PUT GOD OFF
“WHEN I’M JUST a BIT OLDER”
RELATIONSHIP W/ GOD = CAN KICKED DOWN the ROAD...
WE DON’T ALWAYS GET A FINAL CHANCE to BE RIGHT W/ GOD
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DON’T WASTE YOUR BEST YEARS APART from GOD
YOUR BODY = STRONGEST
YOUR MIND = STRONGEST
BEST TIME to SERVE HIM! GIVING HIM YOUR BEST!
THE FIRSTFRUITS of YOUR LIFE!
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Testimony: SO ENCOURAGED BY the GROUP of YOUNG ADULTS WE HAVE at G.C.
LOVE GOD
FAITHFULLY COME
FAITHFULLY SERVE
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MANY TEENS COME to CHURCH—THEY HAVE TO.
ONCE YOU’RE OUT of the HOUSE—IN YOUR 20’s… YOU’VE GOT MORE FREEDOM...
& YET WE SEE SO MANY MAKING CHURCH a PRIORITY
Ex.: ETHAN & KAYLEE—STEVE’S CLASS W/ TWINS
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Takeaway: ENJOY YOUR BEST YEARS—YES. ENJOY ALL the YEARS, YES...
BUT DON’T DO SO APART from GOD...
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Transition:
ALL in ALL— TEACHER = SAYING to US
Passage Idea:
Passage Idea:
Life is good, enjoy and use it serve God in every season.
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Gospel Connection: A Greater Life to Come
Gospel Connection: A Greater Life to Come
FOR ALL of US—LIFE = FLEETING & SOON to BE GONE...
EITHER in LATER YEARS
OR WILL BE THERE SOON
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RIGHT-STANDING W/ GOD ISN’T to BE PUT OFF.
NOT “SOMEDAY”
NOT WHEN...
TODAY. SEEK HIM TODAY.
DEATH COMES SOONER THAN WE EXPECT
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IT WILL EITHER BRING ETERNAL BLESSEDNESS, OR ETERNAL HORRORS...
C.S. LEWIS— There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, "Thy will be done," and those to whom God says, in the end, "Thy will be done." All that are in Hell, choose it.
HELL = GOD GIVING PEOPLE WHO’VE REJECTED HIM THEIR WHOLE LIVES WHAT THEY TRULY WANT
**PEOPLE CLAIM THEY WANT HEAVEN—BUT THEY REALLY DON’T
PRESENCE of GOD = WHAT MAKES HEAVEN HEAVEN
SEPARATION from GOD = WHAT MAKES HELL HELL...
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Good News: GOD ISN’T RUNNING FROM YOU—EVEN IF YOU’VE BEEN RUNNING from HIM
GOD LOVES YOU
SO MUCH SO—HE SENT HIS SON to PAY FOR YOUR SINS
HE CAME AFTER YOU!
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Problem: SIN SEPARATES US FROM GOD—CAUSES US to HIDE FROM HIM
Ex.: ADAM & EVE in GARDEN—SUDDENLY HIDING!
Romans 3:23 (ESV)
23 all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
YET—GOD TOOK INITIATIVE to FIX RELATIONSHIP WE STRAINED!
Solution: THROUGH FAITH in JESUS CHRIST—WE CAN BE FORGIVEN—HAVE RELATIONSHIP W/ LIVING GOD…
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THOSE WHO BELIEVE— WE HAVE a HOPE of ETERNAL GLORY — A HOPE the TEACHER DIDN’T EVEN KNOW YET!
HOPE of FINAL RESURRECTION
END of STORY ISN’T VANITY—ISN’T PAIN—WINDOWS DIMMED LIVING...
Invitation: IF YOU’RE HERE WITHOUT THIS HOPE—I’D LOVE to SPEAK W/ YOU AFTER the SERVICE TODAY....
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Transition: NOW,, to the BELIEVERS HERE THIS MORNING…CLOSING CHARGE...
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Application: Two Things to Remember Daily
Application: Two Things to Remember Daily
CHURCH— EACH & EVERY DAY is a GIFT!
(V7) LIGHT is SWEET—PLEASURE for EYES to SEE the SUN
BREATH in YOUR LUNGS = GIFT from GOD.
OLD AGE—LOTS of LIFE— REJOICE in MANY YEARS
YOUNG AGE— REJOICE in YOUTHFULNESS
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ALL of US— REMEMBER TODAY is a GIFT
— MOST of ALL... REMEMBER the GIVER.
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Challenge: EACH MORNING—REMIND YOURSELF
“TODAY is A DAY I DIDN’T DESERVE, A GIFT I WASN’T PROMISED...”
— THANK GOD FOR IT. — REMEMBERING YOUR CREATOR.
FIRST THOUGHTS of a DAY—REALLY SET the TONE
Psalm 118:24 (ESV)
24 This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
USE THAT PERSPECTIVE to SERVE GOD TODAY—
— AND DON’T WAIT UNTIL IT’S TOO LATE...
Conclusion: NOW—AS WE LOOK to COMMUNION—
— WE HAVE a SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY to REMEMBER the GREAT SACRIFICE of JESUS...
THAT BROUGHT US the GREATEST GIFT—ETERNAL LIFE...
Close in Prayer
