Ecclesiastes 11 (2)
Notes
Transcript
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Verse Memorization
Verse Memorization
I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
Ecclesiastes 11
Ecclesiastes 11
Turn to and read Ecclesiastes 11:7-10. Pray.
Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun:
Enjoy the light; enjoy life.
Enjoy the light; enjoy life.
Sometimes there is nothing better than to stand outside on a beautifully sunny day and simply bask in the sunlight and enjoy the warm rays of the sun!
“Every day, in every way, in every circumstance, in every trial and tribulation, in every moment of worship, in every song of praise, in every word and deed, rejoice in all of them and be glad.”
Philips, John; Hastings, Jim. Exploring Ecclesiastes (John Phillips Commentary Series) . Kregel Academic & Professional. Kindle Edition.
A Psalm of praise.
Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.
Serve the Lord with gladness: Come before his presence with singing.
Know ye that the Lord he is God: It is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, And into his courts with praise: Be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; And his truth endureth to all generations.
This is the day which the Lord hath made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.
Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
But, as we enjoy the light and enjoy life we must also...
Rejoice also in the Giver of light; the Giver of life.
Rejoice also in the Giver of light; the Giver of life.
Philippians 4:4 says, “Rejoice in the Lord...”
There are many who seek to enjoy light and enjoy life. However, they do so apart from God. As Christians, we must never separate the gift from the Giver!
God is the Lord, which hath shewed us light: Bind the sacrifice with cords, Even unto the horns of the altar.
Not long ago, I had a conversation with an individual who is on the opposite side of things than I am regarding politics and “social issues.” They commented to me that they believed in life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. (As if I didn’t believe in those things as well.) But we must think: What is the foundation of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness? For it to be true life, and true liberty, and true happiness, the foundation must be God. He is the giver of life; He is the giver of liberty; He is the giver of happiness (joy)!
But if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity.
Do dark days come? Yes. How will you respond?
Do dark days come? Yes. How will you respond?
We know how Solomon responded: “All that cometh is vanity!”
Much of what Solomon had to “deal with” was of his own making. (How much of what we have to “deal with” is simply the results – consequences – of our own choices?) He had chosen to take a path that led him away from the Lord. With that came the consequences of living a life away from the Lord. Many of Solomon’s dark days were dark because they were a consequence of his choices. Solomon walked away from the Light.
And the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the Lord God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice,
We must make a conscious decision to walk in the Light!
We must make a conscious decision to walk in the Light!
Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Note: As 1 John 1:6 states, if we live a life that is contrary to the Truth - God’s Word - while, at the same time claiming to be “in fellowship with God,” we need to understand that God calls us liar.
However, even when we choose to follow the Lord, we will experience dark days. Just ask
Job
Paul
Joseph
Daniel or the three Hebrew children
Ask the believers from Hebrews 11:32-40.
And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
(Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
We are not immune to:
Cancer
Financial reversals
Wayward children
So the question remains: How will we respond to those “days of darkness?”
May we respond as Job:
But he knoweth the way that I take: When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
My foot hath held his steps, His way have I kept, and not declined.
Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.
Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.
Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth…
Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth…
Enjoy your youth. Enjoy the unending supply of youthful energy. Enjoy the lack of responsibility (families, work, house payments, etc.).
But...
Don’t fail to recognize ownership.
Don’t fail to recognize ownership.
This was Solomon’s constant problem: Failure to recognize God! In this verse, notice how many times Solomon uses a personal pronoun.
Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.
“…let thy heart cheer thee…” Is it wise to rely upon our heart to cheer us up?
“…walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes…” Is it wise to rely upon our heart and our eyes to guide us in this life? Our heart can deceive us. Our eyes can deceive us.
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
A self-centered life always leads to a dead end.
Philips, John; Hastings, Jim. Exploring Ecclesiastes (John Phillips Commentary Series) . Kregel Academic & Professional. Kindle Edition.
“…but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.”
Young people (and adults at times) have the tendency to dismiss the consequences of their choices. Here, Solomon says, “Sure, let your heart cheer you; walk in the ways of your heart, but remember: God will hold you accountable!”
You can make your own choices but you can’t choose the consequences!
Choices have consequences!
So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.
“Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart…”
Sorrow: vexation, grief
Young people seems to get so aggravated and annoyed at times because they are transitioning from being children to being adults. Most young people that I have had the opportunity to know have been in a hurry to grow up! (I was one of those!)
Don’t be in such a hurry to grow up! Enjoy this time of life. Allow God to use it to prepare you for the future He has for you!
“…Put away evil from thy flesh…”
Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
Children are often admonished, “Don’t play with fire!” We should be as quick to admonish them, “Don’t toy with evil.”
Direction is set early in life. Habits are formed early in life.
Develop a lifestyle of righteousness, faith, charity, peace; develop relationships with those who love and follow the Lord.
So, put away evil and put on the Lord Jesus Christ!
But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
“…for childhood and youth are vanity…” No they are not! God has a purpose for both childhood and youth!