Vrses 14 Solomon is disturbed that good happens to wicked and bad happens to righteous.
Vrs 15 Solomon responds by saying what is the point I guess I will just enjoy the things of life.
The possessions of this world were never designed to bring us eternal happiness. So now Solomon is again “Restless” because he is not happy with enjoying the things of life. This issue is still bothering him. (ice cram did not take care of it)
Vrs 16 Now he is saying wait I want to understand this “applied my heart” I am losing sleep over it.
Vrs 17 There are things that are a mystery. Human nature wants all the answers
9:1- Solomon realizes though good and evil is dispensed over the wicked and the righteous, God has particular care over the “Righteous” and “Wise” “hand of God”
9:2- Solomon is saying of I realize there is a difference between the Christian and non-Christian. A description of sanctification (comparing the Christian and non-Christian)
Results of sanctification
1. Clean, sins washed away *Unclean sins remain
2. Sacrifice, inward and outward worship ((becoming set apart in this area is living more for Christ and less for self) *No Worship
3. Does good- has a desire to accomplish the good works that God prepared in advance Eph 2:10 *Doing good not a priority
4. Fears God- respect *Not much if any regaurd
But the problems that Solomon runs into is, there is not much difference in the comforts and the burdens of Christians and non-Christians.
The difference between a Christian and a non-Christian is not what we have but what we are.
Solomon is going back and forth and he sees that there is a difference between the believer and the non-believer but he sees similar if not the same thing happens to them both. They both receive good and bad stuff and they both die. We know that bad things do not come from God but He good does.
So the question here then become why should the bad or wicked people receive anything good?
The answer is…the Theology of Common Grace come in
Dutch Reformer Abraham Kuyper did a great deal of work with this theology.
9:3a
Common Grace-is the grace of God by which He gives people innumerable blessings that are not part of salvation, but are common to all. James 1:16-17 & Matthew 5:44-46
Kuyper would add “God working on the heart of the sinner”
Common Grace is a means by which God gets peoples attention and therefore assists in their possible Salvation. Salvation is born out of “Saving Grace”
Where do we see Common Grace
Realms of Common Grace (Out of Grudem’s Sytematic Theology)
-Physical- Rain, Mt 5:44-46, material possessions Gen 39:5 Potipher’s house blessed because of Joseph
-Intellect- People have the capacity for knowledge
-Moral- Restrains people from being evil all the time. Rom 1:32 Know right from wrong
-Creative- art, music, inventions
-Societal- Government Rom 13:1-4, development
-Religious- Love your enemies Mt 5:44. The fact that we have faith can bless others
Vrs 3 Solomon says this is evil…what is evil?
That people don’t recognize Common Grace
Romans 1:21 not thankful. They don’t see that God is the giver of good gifts James 1:16-17
Unbelievers look at God and if things are going great think “I don’t need God” and if things are going terrible “God is terrible”
Vrs 4 -5a A Christian that is suffering is better then a non-Christian who has much and is proud. Dog=unclean scavenger Lion= proud predator
Some other benefits of our Salvation…hope and security in death
9:5b-6 The demise of the unbeliever and their response. Common Grace is as good as it gets for an unbeliever. This is why many try to create heaven on earth with functional saviors.
What the unbeliever fails to realize is Common Grace is God’s way of pointing us to Saving Grace.
But they use the good things and make them ultimate things and put them in the place of God.
Then when those things don’t deliver the happiness, contentment, fulfillment we look for other things will and the cycle continues.
7-10 The response of the believer… If you have Jesus in your life enjoy the good things that God has given
Vrs 7 Enjoy Possessions
Vrs 8 Live Pure
Vrs 9 Enjoy the people
Vrs 10 Enjoy your work/calling
Why? because we have a good God who wants good for you
The negative responses from a believer.
1. Don’t enjoy the good gifts
2. We are angry with God because He sheds grace on people “who do not deserve it”
These responses result in no joy, complaining about everything
Paul said we should be content in all siuations
Remember in the end we win. 1 John 5:4-5 We overcome the world
Vrs 11 It is not by our own merit. Human knowledge verses God’ ways. You would think …”this” but sometimes its “that”. Everything you learned about life unlearn it
The ultimate example of this is Jesus dying for us. You would think it is “be Good” but Jesus paid it all for you. GOSPEL
Vrs 12 You don’t known when your life will be demanded of you
So To the unbeliever how are you responding to Common Grace?
Luke 12:17-20 Fool Is it helping you recognize Saving Grace
And To the believer how are you dealing with Common Grace? Are you using it as an opportunity to talk to the unbelievers & are you enjoying what God has blessed you with.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Sunday, May 16, 2010
"Restless" Jesus & Politics
Obeying authorities and politics in general can make you “Restless”
Because of that there are two main responses that people take.
1. Get real involved in politics and the issues almost to the point of being consumed.
If you are too into politics, it can become an idol
A church or a Christian should not be defined by their political party, our definition comes from Christ.
2. Insulate yourself and not care about political issues that affect the world we live in.
Some Christians don’t bother and have an attitude of complacency. Complacency paved the way for things like the Holocaust. We don’t care so we let evil men rule, then we start to care when it affects us or our wallets or us directly
What should be the Christians response? Lets look at what Solomon says.
Verse 2 As Christians we need to do right before the Lord, that means we are a good citizen and abide by the laws.
Verses 3 Respect- This for Christians is important, we can disagree with the political powers that be... in a respectful and non demeaning way.
Verses 4-7 When you are dealing with authority keep in line with what the king (law givers) want and things will be fine.
But there is a time in which a person needs to speak out and that person needs to use the wisdom from God to judge when that time is.
Even the king needs advisors and accountability. People can’t lead unless they can take leadership. Sometimes the leaders need a reality check.
Daniel is the best biblical example of that, he chose to obey God and not the King when the kings decree went against the Lord.
Daniel did not start a revolt or a campaign, he just continued to do the work of the Lord and be a testimony. And it worked, the king glorified God and the wicked men got their justice.
It is hard for us to understand this story because we are American Christians and that is a great privilege but also a challenge. We were born into a society with a sense of entitlement, my opinion matters and is very important and should be heard, we have rights.
With these things being said and understood what is the role of a Christian in politics.
A Christians politics should be…
Vrs 8 Death is the real enemy that the Christian must fight. We realize that we can’t fight the fact that it will happen but we can share with others Who has conquered death.
1. Fight Death- the way we do that is tell people how to not experience the second death
2. Do Good - Verse 8b wickedness is no way of deliverance
Being politically consumed may cause Christians
1. Ignore death…because they are trying to create a heaven on earth, a world wide Kum by Ya
Political liberalism equated with spiritual liberalism Total Truth p 276
False sense of peace on earth
Richard Niebuhr author of the book Christ and Culture “The Christ of Culture” Christianity should adapt to what ever way culture is going.
2. Fight sin… We take the salt and light concept to a level in which we think we have moral control over this world and we can change everything.
Niebuhr “Christ against culture”
Causes people to be judgmental, trying to make people live by Biblical truth when they do not trust Christ.
What we need to ask when this happens is…
Did you ever read your Bible? It will get worse before it gets better.
Look at the life of Jesus…
Matt 22:15-20 In this account if Jesus said it was right to pay taxes all the tax burdened people would not want to follow, the Jews would accuse Him of loyalty to Rome rather then God. If He said it was wrong they would have accused Him of insurrection (revolt). This question was a political trap to see where Jesus’ loyalty fell.
Here is the Master’s answer Verses 20. Don’t get caught up in politics
1. Do Good – be a good citizen
2. Fight death – serve God
He spread good news about the Kingdom and did good to people. Funny thing is He challenged the religious, the politicians the corrupt leaders.
When we “Do Good” and “fight death” we accomplish what calls “Christ the transformer of culture” this means we start to redeem the culture and community we live in.
Many times people think that we redeem culture by fighting for moral values and against sin, but look at how Jesus redeemed us…love, sacrifice, mercy, forgiveness, grace and pursuit of us. GOSPEL
The result… if we don’t follow Jesus’ example and are more involved in political causes we become frustrated and restless
Verse 9 If you are in a position of power and you hurt others, you will eventually hurt yourself. “Trap I set for you seems to have caught my leg instead” MWY Proverbs 28:9-11
Unfortunately many people aspire to be corrupt. “now I can get away with this”
If God puts you in a power position, accept it and do good with it and fight against death.
Verses 10-13
1. Vrs 10 We get discouraged in doing good, because are good is for a cause rather then Christ.
2. Vrs 11 We give in to the temptation of doing wrong, because corrupt people keep getting their way.
3. Vrs 12-13 We loose focus of what our purpose is as a Christian living in this society.
To Fight death and Do Good
Because of that there are two main responses that people take.
1. Get real involved in politics and the issues almost to the point of being consumed.
If you are too into politics, it can become an idol
A church or a Christian should not be defined by their political party, our definition comes from Christ.
2. Insulate yourself and not care about political issues that affect the world we live in.
Some Christians don’t bother and have an attitude of complacency. Complacency paved the way for things like the Holocaust. We don’t care so we let evil men rule, then we start to care when it affects us or our wallets or us directly
What should be the Christians response? Lets look at what Solomon says.
Verse 2 As Christians we need to do right before the Lord, that means we are a good citizen and abide by the laws.
Verses 3 Respect- This for Christians is important, we can disagree with the political powers that be... in a respectful and non demeaning way.
Verses 4-7 When you are dealing with authority keep in line with what the king (law givers) want and things will be fine.
But there is a time in which a person needs to speak out and that person needs to use the wisdom from God to judge when that time is.
Even the king needs advisors and accountability. People can’t lead unless they can take leadership. Sometimes the leaders need a reality check.
Daniel is the best biblical example of that, he chose to obey God and not the King when the kings decree went against the Lord.
Daniel did not start a revolt or a campaign, he just continued to do the work of the Lord and be a testimony. And it worked, the king glorified God and the wicked men got their justice.
It is hard for us to understand this story because we are American Christians and that is a great privilege but also a challenge. We were born into a society with a sense of entitlement, my opinion matters and is very important and should be heard, we have rights.
With these things being said and understood what is the role of a Christian in politics.
A Christians politics should be…
Vrs 8 Death is the real enemy that the Christian must fight. We realize that we can’t fight the fact that it will happen but we can share with others Who has conquered death.
1. Fight Death- the way we do that is tell people how to not experience the second death
2. Do Good - Verse 8b wickedness is no way of deliverance
Being politically consumed may cause Christians
1. Ignore death…because they are trying to create a heaven on earth, a world wide Kum by Ya
Political liberalism equated with spiritual liberalism Total Truth p 276
False sense of peace on earth
Richard Niebuhr author of the book Christ and Culture “The Christ of Culture” Christianity should adapt to what ever way culture is going.
2. Fight sin… We take the salt and light concept to a level in which we think we have moral control over this world and we can change everything.
Niebuhr “Christ against culture”
Causes people to be judgmental, trying to make people live by Biblical truth when they do not trust Christ.
What we need to ask when this happens is…
Did you ever read your Bible? It will get worse before it gets better.
Look at the life of Jesus…
Matt 22:15-20 In this account if Jesus said it was right to pay taxes all the tax burdened people would not want to follow, the Jews would accuse Him of loyalty to Rome rather then God. If He said it was wrong they would have accused Him of insurrection (revolt). This question was a political trap to see where Jesus’ loyalty fell.
Here is the Master’s answer Verses 20. Don’t get caught up in politics
1. Do Good – be a good citizen
2. Fight death – serve God
He spread good news about the Kingdom and did good to people. Funny thing is He challenged the religious, the politicians the corrupt leaders.
When we “Do Good” and “fight death” we accomplish what calls “Christ the transformer of culture” this means we start to redeem the culture and community we live in.
Many times people think that we redeem culture by fighting for moral values and against sin, but look at how Jesus redeemed us…love, sacrifice, mercy, forgiveness, grace and pursuit of us. GOSPEL
The result… if we don’t follow Jesus’ example and are more involved in political causes we become frustrated and restless
Verse 9 If you are in a position of power and you hurt others, you will eventually hurt yourself. “Trap I set for you seems to have caught my leg instead” MWY Proverbs 28:9-11
Unfortunately many people aspire to be corrupt. “now I can get away with this”
If God puts you in a power position, accept it and do good with it and fight against death.
Verses 10-13
1. Vrs 10 We get discouraged in doing good, because are good is for a cause rather then Christ.
2. Vrs 11 We give in to the temptation of doing wrong, because corrupt people keep getting their way.
3. Vrs 12-13 We loose focus of what our purpose is as a Christian living in this society.
To Fight death and Do Good
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
"Restless: Be Good
Community Group Questions
1. Have you ever did the right thing but it did not go well?
2. When did you realize you were not good?
3 Have you found that you struggle with things in life that are not good? What are those things?
4. Are there certain people in life that try to bring you down?
5. Do you have issues with trusting people?
In life we have situations in which we do the right thing and “be good” and we run into problems…
Verse 15 It is a mystery why bad happens to “good” people and good happens to the “bad” (Table this verse until chapter 8:14 and talk about common grace)
1. Being “good” does not give you ultimate protection
We think if I am good, good will happen to me
Verses 16 preacher is warning about pseudo-religiosity or showy forms of worship.
2. Trying does not always work
Religion will fail to make you “good”
Vrs 17
3. We get discouraged. So we start to do bad.
The Solution
Verses 18-20
Understanding what makes you “good” will help you deal with what is not “good” in life.
The GOSPEL.
We are not “good” and we need a Savior
After we are made “Good” by Jesus many times we are brought down by What is not “good” does not bear down on you,
Solomon shows us what is not good…
Verse 21
1. People will sin against you (It breaks a moms heart when their child comes home and realizes people are not good)
2. You will not make everyone happy. People will complain, have high expectations and not be pleased with you.
Mark Driscoll calls the Pastorate being a piñata
Verses 22 truth be told if you are asking why would someone say something bad a me? Cause you do it too.
3. You will sin against others
Verses 23-25 our inability to accomplish righteousness on our own
I have proved, I will be wise I I I
4. Life can get frustrating, we try and try, we get restless cause we try to much
Verses 26
5. People will try to bring you down.
Side note: Pleasing, how do we please God?
Verses 27-28 you will search and search add and add, but you will not find the answer through men or women
6. You can’t fully trust others. (in general)
Verses 29 God’s desire is to Redeem you and make you “good”
Eph. 2:8-10
when we apply the Solution (The GOSPEL) to our lives we will start to be good. If Jesus made you “good” then you need Jesus to be “good”
How does this work? Applying the Gospel
1. People sin against
2. You can’t make everyone happy (have to make Jesus happy)
3. You sin against others (ask for forgiveness)
4. Life gets frustrating (Love like the Father in prodigal son)
5. People try to bring you down (Jesus suffered for what people are trying to bring you down into)
6. You can’t fully trust others (Realize He is all you have, but we extend grace)
Result: Face shines
Verse 8:1 The Biblical concept of a persons face shining is an image of a person who is stable. Understanding
When a child comes to the point in life where they realize “my mom wants me to be good because she wants good for me” Mom’s know their children are incapable of always being “good”.
Their countenance changes…Oh so that’s why
When a person comes to the reality that only Jesus can make them “Good” righteous, their face shines and when se apply the Gospel to each situation we can do “Good”
1. Have you ever did the right thing but it did not go well?
2. When did you realize you were not good?
3 Have you found that you struggle with things in life that are not good? What are those things?
4. Are there certain people in life that try to bring you down?
5. Do you have issues with trusting people?
In life we have situations in which we do the right thing and “be good” and we run into problems…
Verse 15 It is a mystery why bad happens to “good” people and good happens to the “bad” (Table this verse until chapter 8:14 and talk about common grace)
1. Being “good” does not give you ultimate protection
We think if I am good, good will happen to me
Verses 16 preacher is warning about pseudo-religiosity or showy forms of worship.
2. Trying does not always work
Religion will fail to make you “good”
Vrs 17
3. We get discouraged. So we start to do bad.
The Solution
Verses 18-20
Understanding what makes you “good” will help you deal with what is not “good” in life.
The GOSPEL.
We are not “good” and we need a Savior
After we are made “Good” by Jesus many times we are brought down by What is not “good” does not bear down on you,
Solomon shows us what is not good…
Verse 21
1. People will sin against you (It breaks a moms heart when their child comes home and realizes people are not good)
2. You will not make everyone happy. People will complain, have high expectations and not be pleased with you.
Mark Driscoll calls the Pastorate being a piñata
Verses 22 truth be told if you are asking why would someone say something bad a me? Cause you do it too.
3. You will sin against others
Verses 23-25 our inability to accomplish righteousness on our own
I have proved, I will be wise I I I
4. Life can get frustrating, we try and try, we get restless cause we try to much
Verses 26
5. People will try to bring you down.
Side note: Pleasing, how do we please God?
Verses 27-28 you will search and search add and add, but you will not find the answer through men or women
6. You can’t fully trust others. (in general)
Verses 29 God’s desire is to Redeem you and make you “good”
Eph. 2:8-10
when we apply the Solution (The GOSPEL) to our lives we will start to be good. If Jesus made you “good” then you need Jesus to be “good”
How does this work? Applying the Gospel
1. People sin against
2. You can’t make everyone happy (have to make Jesus happy)
3. You sin against others (ask for forgiveness)
4. Life gets frustrating (Love like the Father in prodigal son)
5. People try to bring you down (Jesus suffered for what people are trying to bring you down into)
6. You can’t fully trust others (Realize He is all you have, but we extend grace)
Result: Face shines
Verse 8:1 The Biblical concept of a persons face shining is an image of a person who is stable. Understanding
When a child comes to the point in life where they realize “my mom wants me to be good because she wants good for me” Mom’s know their children are incapable of always being “good”.
Their countenance changes…Oh so that’s why
When a person comes to the reality that only Jesus can make them “Good” righteous, their face shines and when se apply the Gospel to each situation we can do “Good”
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
"Restless" The Growing Name
What encourages spiritual growth?
Vrs 1a come back to that
Vrs 1b-4
1. Suffering
Suffering to grow a theology of suffering,
The contrast here is this…as far as spiritual growth is concerned; you will grow more when you are suffering. The day of death is not you actually dieing it is a loved one.
Celebrating does not inspire growth as much as pain and suffering, in pain and suffering we start to look for answers.
Jesus suffered and His suffering should get our attention. It should wake us up to how serious our sin is and the high price that was paid to redeem us. GOSPEL His suffering accomplished much.
So when you suffer, keep your eyes on the one who suffered.
Verse 5-6
2. Correction-anytime someone comes along side you and corrects or wants to help you get on the right path. Correction brings growth
If you have people in your life that love you enough to correct you, love them because they love you.
How do you take the correction…be humble and look to change.
Listening to the encouragement of fools. Young guys in particular listen to this. Wisdom is personified as a woman in Proverbs. Studies show that if there is a group of men and no women in the mix, the men are more likely to commit a crime
Verses 7
3. Temptation
Learning to do good amidst the evil around you. It is very tempting to sin when we are oppressed or when you are deceived or bribed
-Oppression- treated unfairly, how do you respond? JESUS
-Bride- this may look good, but that does not mean it is good? JUDAS
Temptation helps you grow because if you stand up under it, you feel the hand of God helping you and it encourages for the next temptation. But if you fall, you learn from consequences.
Verse 8
4. Waiting
Why so long oh Lord will this trouble not leave? Patience
ER illustration: There are certain things we do when we wait.
-Look for consolation (talk to every seemingly knowledgeable person)
-Complain- I am looking for some to commiserate with me
-Worry
But Jesus wants you to trust
If you don’t fair well in these areas, suffering, correction, temptation and waiting you will fall into the trap of things Solomon says will stunt your spiritual growth.
What stunts spiritual growth?
Verse 9
1. Anger with God
Why have you appointed me for this suffering? I am mad at you Lord.
It is not wrong to question but it is wrong to cast blame
JONAH-he was mad at God’s character
Verses 10
2. Dwelling in the past
Don’t dwell in the past, life was better before this happened.
Church illustration: Some hold onto certain ways of doing things and if it does not stay that way it stunts their growth.
Here are non-negotiables…
-Our statements of faith, Jesus, trinity, scripture
-The Word will be preached
-The Good News preached
-The songs will be about Jesus
-We celebrate communion
-We baptize believers
Deal with the present so you can learn from it.
Verses 11-12
3. Worldly wisdom
Wisdom comes from the Lord and knowing the counsel of God, realizing He is in control, He has a plan, His plan is good but you need to be molded into that plan.
You will stunt your spiritual growth by looking to the world for the answers to the questions of life.
Verses 13
4. Thinking you are in control
Realizing you don’t have ultimate power to fix everything. This is important especially for the men, we by nature want to fix, In order to grow we need to give those things to the Lord
Verses 14
5. Not accepting what God allows in your life.
When you are in a good season in life…enjoy it. But what makes a good season, that much better is enduring a bad season before it. This past winter was a great example.
But the response should be “Oh Lord you are in control”
Verse 1 what makes a name good? Dealing well with the areas that encourage spiritual growth. So if you are growing you will help heal others like precious ointment.
If this happens “The Growing Name” will be that of Jesus, precious ointment that heals and sooths the damaged souls.
Vrs 1a come back to that
Vrs 1b-4
1. Suffering
Suffering to grow a theology of suffering,
The contrast here is this…as far as spiritual growth is concerned; you will grow more when you are suffering. The day of death is not you actually dieing it is a loved one.
Celebrating does not inspire growth as much as pain and suffering, in pain and suffering we start to look for answers.
Jesus suffered and His suffering should get our attention. It should wake us up to how serious our sin is and the high price that was paid to redeem us. GOSPEL His suffering accomplished much.
So when you suffer, keep your eyes on the one who suffered.
Verse 5-6
2. Correction-anytime someone comes along side you and corrects or wants to help you get on the right path. Correction brings growth
If you have people in your life that love you enough to correct you, love them because they love you.
How do you take the correction…be humble and look to change.
Listening to the encouragement of fools. Young guys in particular listen to this. Wisdom is personified as a woman in Proverbs. Studies show that if there is a group of men and no women in the mix, the men are more likely to commit a crime
Verses 7
3. Temptation
Learning to do good amidst the evil around you. It is very tempting to sin when we are oppressed or when you are deceived or bribed
-Oppression- treated unfairly, how do you respond? JESUS
-Bride- this may look good, but that does not mean it is good? JUDAS
Temptation helps you grow because if you stand up under it, you feel the hand of God helping you and it encourages for the next temptation. But if you fall, you learn from consequences.
Verse 8
4. Waiting
Why so long oh Lord will this trouble not leave? Patience
ER illustration: There are certain things we do when we wait.
-Look for consolation (talk to every seemingly knowledgeable person)
-Complain- I am looking for some to commiserate with me
-Worry
But Jesus wants you to trust
If you don’t fair well in these areas, suffering, correction, temptation and waiting you will fall into the trap of things Solomon says will stunt your spiritual growth.
What stunts spiritual growth?
Verse 9
1. Anger with God
Why have you appointed me for this suffering? I am mad at you Lord.
It is not wrong to question but it is wrong to cast blame
JONAH-he was mad at God’s character
Verses 10
2. Dwelling in the past
Don’t dwell in the past, life was better before this happened.
Church illustration: Some hold onto certain ways of doing things and if it does not stay that way it stunts their growth.
Here are non-negotiables…
-Our statements of faith, Jesus, trinity, scripture
-The Word will be preached
-The Good News preached
-The songs will be about Jesus
-We celebrate communion
-We baptize believers
Deal with the present so you can learn from it.
Verses 11-12
3. Worldly wisdom
Wisdom comes from the Lord and knowing the counsel of God, realizing He is in control, He has a plan, His plan is good but you need to be molded into that plan.
You will stunt your spiritual growth by looking to the world for the answers to the questions of life.
Verses 13
4. Thinking you are in control
Realizing you don’t have ultimate power to fix everything. This is important especially for the men, we by nature want to fix, In order to grow we need to give those things to the Lord
Verses 14
5. Not accepting what God allows in your life.
When you are in a good season in life…enjoy it. But what makes a good season, that much better is enduring a bad season before it. This past winter was a great example.
But the response should be “Oh Lord you are in control”
Verse 1 what makes a name good? Dealing well with the areas that encourage spiritual growth. So if you are growing you will help heal others like precious ointment.
If this happens “The Growing Name” will be that of Jesus, precious ointment that heals and sooths the damaged souls.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)