Week 4 “Kingdom Building” 2:4-11 ( we should be working on Jesus’ kingdom)
We build our kingdom for our glory, we build Jesus’ kingdom for Jesus’ glory
2:4-8-His accomplishments
2:9-He was admired and had much power
2:10- He was receiving the reward at that time (no lasting reward)
(matt 6 they have their reward)
2:11-All those things didn’t answer the questions at the end of the day they still left my heart “restless”
All this stuff did not bring lasting fulfillment
But it also brings up the questions…
Is it wrong to…
Have a nice home?
Have a nice car?
Build into a business?
Take time to make things beautiful?
Some may say…”what about Jesus” Jesus was not here to build a life on earth, but to give us life.
The answer is no as long as it is in view of bringing Jesus glory rather then bringing yourself glory.
If it is all for you it will be a problem.
We are ingrained with this idea of building for ourselves little boys build forts little girls play house.
God created man to subdue, when man is creative and shows ingenuity it brings glory to Jesus
Matt 6:19-21 Earthly treasures will let you down and never cure the restless heart
Dangers of material possessions
-Pride -Our own mini kingdom brings glory to ourselves
-Greed-most givers are not wealthy
-Security- rich young ruler Mt 19
-Becomes a god
-Lose yourself for it (neglect, family) American way is to live beyond your means
How can we use our kingdom for Jesus’ kingdom? Learn from Solomon
-Generosity 2 Chronicles 9:27(silver like stones) 1 Kings 10:13 (gave to the queen of Sheba)
-Provision for family (wife) 2 Chron 8:11 (rebuke man cave concept)
-Provided for God’s people 2 Chronicles 8:9 Employment
-Built up protection for God’s people Galatians 6:9-10
-Shared his wisdom with others 2 Chronicles 9:23
-Built the temple for God’s people to worship 1 Kings 9:25
GOSPEL Priest, Sacrifice, Tabernacle. Jesus is the priest and sacrifice and the Holy Spirit comes to live in us.
Local church is that to the world
-Good steward of possessions (we can’t say someone is more spiritual because they have a junky car, I can say maybe they are less spiritual because they don’t take care of what God has blessed them with)
-Testimony to of God’s blessings 1 Kings 10 (queen of Sheba)
As a believer we should use the kingdom Jesus has given us to build the kingdom of Jesus
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Monday, February 15, 2010
"Restless": Escape
Questions for Community Groups
1. Have you ever used fun/amusement to escape from thinking about a real problems or issues that you were facing?
2. Do you feel you have a healthy balance of fun/amusement in your life?
3. What do you do for fun/amusement?
4. Have you ever fallen into the trap of using alcohol as an escape from problems?
5. What is your personal conviction about use of alcohol? How does this work for you?
Ecclesiastes 2:1-3
Escape: in this next passage we can see that Solomon falls into the trap that many people fall in. God creates things for us to use but not to abuse and use as an escape from dealing with the real issues of life and what our purpose in life is.
Vrs 1a “I said to my heart” Augustine quote “My heart was restless until it found rest in You”
A restless heart looks for satisfaction and answers in many different places and Solomon was no different he was looking for satisfaction and answers in the pleasures of life
Vrs 1b Mirth = a-muse(to think)-ment lets not think and enjoy pleasure
“Meaningless” I can’t find real answers is pleasure
Vrs 2 “what does it accomplish?”
Is fun and amusement really pointless or does God permit it so we can be well balanced people?
Studies on laughter show that laughter lowers blood pressure and help aid stress management.
During the war movie blood flow decreased by an average of 35%. And during the comedy it increased by an average of 22%. The conclusion? Laughter may be as healthy as exercise!
A joyful heart is good medicine Pro 17:22
Some think that Christians have no fun
“ I envisioned you sleeping on a bed of nails with an iron cross as the headboard”
There are Dangers in Amusement
-What we find funny can be offensive to God, like crass, vulgar and sexual innuendoes.
-Becomes a God. Costa guy “I put my faith in surfing
-Escape Never able to be serious
Bottom line is…
Proverbs 14:13 laughter and amusement won’t fix the problem it is just a temporary escape
Christians should be filled with joy and have fun
We need to understand what the Bible says about true joy.
Find joy in…
-Salvation GOSPEL
-Responsibility- family, service, work
-Fellowship
Vrs 3 “cheer my body with wine” my heart still guiding me with wisdom. Solomon did not indulge himself so excessively with wine that he lost his ability to think with genuine discernment.
Or possible he got drunk and realized that was pointless and did not answer any questions
Bible says
Psalm 104:15 And wine that makes glad the heart of man
Views on Alcohol…Prohibitionist…Abstentionist
Moderation- This view is I believe the most biblical because it takes into consideration that alcohol is a good gift of God and can be rightly used. And also realizes the dangers of alcohol.
Moderation or self-control in all of one's behavior, not abstinence, is the biblical norm
Trap is self control, you can’t be a moderationist if you lack self control in this area.
Dangers:
-You can’t have fun w/o a drink.
-You need a drink to get to sleep
-You focus too much on having a drink
-Drinking becomes an escape
Vrs 3b “Till I might see” Solomon sounds like a college kid “Have fun party and figure out what life is about”
Solomon is saying “it doesn’t work” and it shouldn’t
We will never find true satisfaction from the pleasures of this world
“If I discover within myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world” C.S. Lewis
Rather then escape we need to look for purpose in life
Proverbs 3:12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but desire fulfilled is a tree of life.
When we put our hope in things of this world it makes our heart sick.
Our deepest desire is to have purpose
Vrs 3b “what was good for the sons of men to do under heaven all the days of their lives”
Purpose in life is to...bring glory to Jesus
Here’s how we bring this altogether…all the things that we do in life whether it is having fun out with friends, spending time raising a glass and having a good meal, watching a funny movie, engaging in a fun sport or hobby.
1 Cor 10:31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
1. Have you ever used fun/amusement to escape from thinking about a real problems or issues that you were facing?
2. Do you feel you have a healthy balance of fun/amusement in your life?
3. What do you do for fun/amusement?
4. Have you ever fallen into the trap of using alcohol as an escape from problems?
5. What is your personal conviction about use of alcohol? How does this work for you?
Ecclesiastes 2:1-3
Escape: in this next passage we can see that Solomon falls into the trap that many people fall in. God creates things for us to use but not to abuse and use as an escape from dealing with the real issues of life and what our purpose in life is.
Vrs 1a “I said to my heart” Augustine quote “My heart was restless until it found rest in You”
A restless heart looks for satisfaction and answers in many different places and Solomon was no different he was looking for satisfaction and answers in the pleasures of life
Vrs 1b Mirth = a-muse(to think)-ment lets not think and enjoy pleasure
“Meaningless” I can’t find real answers is pleasure
Vrs 2 “what does it accomplish?”
Is fun and amusement really pointless or does God permit it so we can be well balanced people?
Studies on laughter show that laughter lowers blood pressure and help aid stress management.
During the war movie blood flow decreased by an average of 35%. And during the comedy it increased by an average of 22%. The conclusion? Laughter may be as healthy as exercise!
A joyful heart is good medicine Pro 17:22
Some think that Christians have no fun
“ I envisioned you sleeping on a bed of nails with an iron cross as the headboard”
There are Dangers in Amusement
-What we find funny can be offensive to God, like crass, vulgar and sexual innuendoes.
-Becomes a God. Costa guy “I put my faith in surfing
-Escape Never able to be serious
Bottom line is…
Proverbs 14:13 laughter and amusement won’t fix the problem it is just a temporary escape
Christians should be filled with joy and have fun
We need to understand what the Bible says about true joy.
Find joy in…
-Salvation GOSPEL
-Responsibility- family, service, work
-Fellowship
Vrs 3 “cheer my body with wine” my heart still guiding me with wisdom. Solomon did not indulge himself so excessively with wine that he lost his ability to think with genuine discernment.
Or possible he got drunk and realized that was pointless and did not answer any questions
Bible says
Psalm 104:15 And wine that makes glad the heart of man
Views on Alcohol…Prohibitionist…Abstentionist
Moderation- This view is I believe the most biblical because it takes into consideration that alcohol is a good gift of God and can be rightly used. And also realizes the dangers of alcohol.
Moderation or self-control in all of one's behavior, not abstinence, is the biblical norm
Trap is self control, you can’t be a moderationist if you lack self control in this area.
Dangers:
-You can’t have fun w/o a drink.
-You need a drink to get to sleep
-You focus too much on having a drink
-Drinking becomes an escape
Vrs 3b “Till I might see” Solomon sounds like a college kid “Have fun party and figure out what life is about”
Solomon is saying “it doesn’t work” and it shouldn’t
We will never find true satisfaction from the pleasures of this world
“If I discover within myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world” C.S. Lewis
Rather then escape we need to look for purpose in life
Proverbs 3:12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but desire fulfilled is a tree of life.
When we put our hope in things of this world it makes our heart sick.
Our deepest desire is to have purpose
Vrs 3b “what was good for the sons of men to do under heaven all the days of their lives”
Purpose in life is to...bring glory to Jesus
Here’s how we bring this altogether…all the things that we do in life whether it is having fun out with friends, spending time raising a glass and having a good meal, watching a funny movie, engaging in a fun sport or hobby.
1 Cor 10:31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
Monday, February 1, 2010
"Restless": Look Up
Week 2 “Look Up” 1:12-18
Augustine said “my heart was restless until it found rest in You”
Vrs 12 “Was king” translated “have been king” Solomon was king till he died
Vrs 13 “Search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven” At this point Solomon saying (as you remember he did not feel significant for accomplishments, he felt empty)
It is burdensome to learn about the fallen world around us. “unhappy business”
This reminds of the innocence of a child is broken when they find out that people are not good and there are people in this world who would hurt you, steal from you and want bad for you.
When a child finds out that things don’t always work out: Enchanted Tosh “dreams can’t come true” Silah “yes they can”
The more we find out about this sinful world the more it discourages us and depresses us. The innocence of youth is tainted when they start to find certain things out. It brings grief, problems and anxiety
Vrs 14 In his discouragement it seems that he is saying nothing matters, but those small things do on many levels.
Vrs 15 “What is crooked” (corrupt) Here is the theological truth….We don’t bring peace…Jesus does.
This world is fallen and we as Christians can be salt and light but we are not the cure for sin
as Christians we will not change things, we can alter things but the changing is up to Jesus because it is about the heart of people.
“what is lacking” The fallen state of the world on a human level is an overwhelming problem, there is sin everywhere
Vrs 16 Knowing how to explain things did not comfort me, it just made realize how short I come up at the end of the day, Because he did not know everything
Vrs 17 The answers that this world provides will only get you so far that’s why Solomon says its like “chasing the wind” he is saying I found the answer to this and it caused me to have more questions.
Vrs. 18 The more I learn and understand the more bummed out I become, or in many cases the callous I become (nothing surprises me anymore)
Solomon will talk later about the good gifts of life that are there for our personal enjoyment but at this stage he is saying I know so much and I thought my knowledge would encourage me it actually discouraged me.
There are going to be things that you are never a peace with, that will never get solved, never be resolved, never be explained, never get to the bottom of, never stop hurting…
The broken fallen state of the world makes us looking around for answers
I believe we normally we look in 3 different areas
In the book of Ecclesiastes Solomon is really talking about the first two areas and flirts with the 3rd and does finally settle on the 4th.
Looking in: New age movement says look deep inside yourself for answers. Unfortunately our hearts are wicked. Jeremiah 17:9
Looking out: (to others): Unfortunately if we can’t rely on ourselves others can’t really help either. We are not solo scriptura, that means when we are sick we go to the doctor
Looking away: Run like Jonah, suppress feeling and problems and ignore the fact that you have questions.
When we finally come to the point in life where all those things don’t work that is the point in which we are ready to respond to Jesus and His tug on our heart.
So what do we do? Look up:
Looking up is taking a step back from the worlds wisdom and advice and looking to Jesus.
??Wisdom of this fallen world brings us to the fact that we need to look outside this present world for comfort and answers
Focus on vrs 13 “under heaven” Solomon was looking everywhere but up
In this fallen world we live in Jesus wants us to look up…
We need to look up when…
-we are in trouble. - Stephen Acts 7:54-60 the martyr,
-we are discouraged-Paul Philippians 3:17-25,
-we are suffering- Paul Romans 8:18
-we are blessed- James good gifts come from above
-we are in sin- David Psalm 51:4 & Paul Romans 7
-we need guidance Jesus in the garden looked to the Father in heaven.
Notice that the examples were looking up to heaven “…inspired by hope in Jesus Christ.” Is a statement that keeps us going because our hope is salvation in heaven with Jesus forever not what this world has to offer.
Heaven is the constant reminder that this world is not our home and heaven is what Jesus is calling us to and really the relationship with Him that we are designed for.
This is what we do know about heaven…
Heaven is
-prepared for us by Jesus
-who you are with…Jesus and His people
-a place of perfection (nursing home ill) No more…
-forever
-a free gift through faith in Jesus
Revelation 21:1-5 & 22-27
Close with cry no more song by Andrew
Augustine said “my heart was restless until it found rest in You”
Vrs 12 “Was king” translated “have been king” Solomon was king till he died
Vrs 13 “Search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven” At this point Solomon saying (as you remember he did not feel significant for accomplishments, he felt empty)
It is burdensome to learn about the fallen world around us. “unhappy business”
This reminds of the innocence of a child is broken when they find out that people are not good and there are people in this world who would hurt you, steal from you and want bad for you.
When a child finds out that things don’t always work out: Enchanted Tosh “dreams can’t come true” Silah “yes they can”
The more we find out about this sinful world the more it discourages us and depresses us. The innocence of youth is tainted when they start to find certain things out. It brings grief, problems and anxiety
Vrs 14 In his discouragement it seems that he is saying nothing matters, but those small things do on many levels.
Vrs 15 “What is crooked” (corrupt) Here is the theological truth….We don’t bring peace…Jesus does.
This world is fallen and we as Christians can be salt and light but we are not the cure for sin
as Christians we will not change things, we can alter things but the changing is up to Jesus because it is about the heart of people.
“what is lacking” The fallen state of the world on a human level is an overwhelming problem, there is sin everywhere
Vrs 16 Knowing how to explain things did not comfort me, it just made realize how short I come up at the end of the day, Because he did not know everything
Vrs 17 The answers that this world provides will only get you so far that’s why Solomon says its like “chasing the wind” he is saying I found the answer to this and it caused me to have more questions.
Vrs. 18 The more I learn and understand the more bummed out I become, or in many cases the callous I become (nothing surprises me anymore)
Solomon will talk later about the good gifts of life that are there for our personal enjoyment but at this stage he is saying I know so much and I thought my knowledge would encourage me it actually discouraged me.
There are going to be things that you are never a peace with, that will never get solved, never be resolved, never be explained, never get to the bottom of, never stop hurting…
The broken fallen state of the world makes us looking around for answers
I believe we normally we look in 3 different areas
In the book of Ecclesiastes Solomon is really talking about the first two areas and flirts with the 3rd and does finally settle on the 4th.
Looking in: New age movement says look deep inside yourself for answers. Unfortunately our hearts are wicked. Jeremiah 17:9
Looking out: (to others): Unfortunately if we can’t rely on ourselves others can’t really help either. We are not solo scriptura, that means when we are sick we go to the doctor
Looking away: Run like Jonah, suppress feeling and problems and ignore the fact that you have questions.
When we finally come to the point in life where all those things don’t work that is the point in which we are ready to respond to Jesus and His tug on our heart.
So what do we do? Look up:
Looking up is taking a step back from the worlds wisdom and advice and looking to Jesus.
??Wisdom of this fallen world brings us to the fact that we need to look outside this present world for comfort and answers
Focus on vrs 13 “under heaven” Solomon was looking everywhere but up
In this fallen world we live in Jesus wants us to look up…
We need to look up when…
-we are in trouble. - Stephen Acts 7:54-60 the martyr,
-we are discouraged-Paul Philippians 3:17-25,
-we are suffering- Paul Romans 8:18
-we are blessed- James good gifts come from above
-we are in sin- David Psalm 51:4 & Paul Romans 7
-we need guidance Jesus in the garden looked to the Father in heaven.
Notice that the examples were looking up to heaven “…inspired by hope in Jesus Christ.” Is a statement that keeps us going because our hope is salvation in heaven with Jesus forever not what this world has to offer.
Heaven is the constant reminder that this world is not our home and heaven is what Jesus is calling us to and really the relationship with Him that we are designed for.
This is what we do know about heaven…
Heaven is
-prepared for us by Jesus
-who you are with…Jesus and His people
-a place of perfection (nursing home ill) No more…
-forever
-a free gift through faith in Jesus
Revelation 21:1-5 & 22-27
Close with cry no more song by Andrew
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