The Playful Life

Scriptural Text: ;

“The true Christian never has to give up anything (of course I am not speaking of sins), but there are a lot of things that will give him up. They will go one by one. There will be no grief. It will be the way childish occupations are abandoned...”

 Donald Grey Barnhouse, Man’s Ruin: (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1952), 18–19.

How

Ho

However, some childish behaviors are like sins that so easily besets us. Thus creating problems in relating to others, especially if they are not like us.

Think on this illustration:

 Donald Grey Barnhouse, Man’s Ruin: (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1952), 18–19.

“Children are playing in he market place. A few begin to play wedding music on their pipes and cry out to others, “Let’s march and play ‘wedding’.” The others shout back, “No. We don’t want to dance around today.” So the first group, still wanting to play, begin to play funeral music and shout back, “Well, let’s play ‘funeral’.” “No. We don’t want to play funeral either. We don’t feel like acting sad.”

The childishness of this generation()

 Donald Grey Barnhouse, Man’s Ruin: (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1952), 18–19.

In Jesus had a message for such a childish and perverse generation. It is applicable to every generation. Points out the world inconsistencies.

(1) The generation is contrary, mindless, playful. They are fault-finders who cannot be pleased. a. They accused John of separation. b. They accused Jesus of worldlinesss

John came neither eating nor drinking. He did not associate with people of make friends. His message was a gospel of repentance and separation from the things of the world. Therefore he was accused of having a devil, that is being mad and insane for choosing to live that way.

Jesus was the very opposite of John. Jesus lived and preached a gospel of liberty. He ate and associated with the people, sharing in their social affairs. Therefore He was accused of being a sinner Himself: a glutton, a winebibber, and an immoral friend of sinners

The childish generation justifies its inconsistencies. John lived and preached a gospel of repentance and separation. Jesus lived and preached a gospel of liberty. They found fault with both and accepted neither.

Note: Children usually justify their wisdom and ideas even if it does not make good sense.

(NKJV) 14that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,

14that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,

(NKJV) 1And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 2I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able;

1And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ.

(NKJV) 11When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

2I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able;

(NKJV) 11When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

11When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

this brings us to the letter to the Galatians,

Our freedom must not lead to carnality (5:14–21).

Your freedom must change your life (5:22–6:18).

"The sure sign of life, of wholeness, of joyous being is the ability to play. Laughter, creativity, the issuance of things made new—these are evidence that the Spirit is present."

After Conversion

(The fruit as Good Character, )

The Spirit works in two main ways in the lives of individual Christians after conversion. First, to give us moral power to live a holy life(work of sanctification)(The fruit as Good Character, )

The second way the Spirit works: To equips Christians for service by bestowing “spiritual gifts” upon them(), . Also, the purpose of spiritual gifts is to equip individual Christians to meet the needs of the church as a whole (; ; ; ; )

this is the biblical imperative

(KJV 1900) 18And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

18And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,

18And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

The result of being filled with the Spirit will be to produce the fruit of the Spirit.

The filling of the Spirit produces “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (vv. 22–23).

The results, believers will be receptive to the teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit (; );

believers will be receptive to the teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit (; ); will exhibit joy, unity, and thankfulness in the assembly (); will be unified and discerning in ministry (); and will show dedication to God and nonconformity to the world ().

will exhibit joy, unity, and thankfulness in the assembly ();

will be unified and discerning in ministry ();

and will show dedication to God and nonconformity to the world ().

The first three virtues express the God-ward aspects of the Christian life: love, joy, and peace.

Disciples are abundantly recompensed(compensated) in this life ; See also ; ; ; ; ; ; ;

; See also ; ; ; ; ; ; ;

(ESV) — 29 Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, 30 who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.

Mark 10:29–30 (ESV) — 29 Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, 30 who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.

Blessings result from obedient discipleship ; See also ; ; ; ;

The “playful life” is by the Spiritual presence of God(the Fruit of the Spirit)

; See also ; ; ; ;

(ESV) — 28 But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”

Luke 11:28 (ESV) — 28 But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”

Joy results from discipleship ; See also ; ; the Philippian jailer; ; ; the fruit of the Spirit; ; ; ; ; ;

Joy results from discipleship ; See also ; ; the Philippian jailer; ; ; the fruit of the Spirit; ; ; ; ; ;

; See also ; ; the Philippian jailer; ; ; the fruit of the Spirit; ; ; ; ; ;

(ESV) — 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

Peace results from discipleship; See also ; ; ; ; ; Jesus Christ promises rest for the weary

; See also ; ; ; ; ; Jesus Christ promises rest for the weary

(ESV) — 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

John 14:27 (ESV) — 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

John 14:27 (ESV) — 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

The “playful life” is by the Spiritual presence of God (the Fruit of the Spirit)