ECCLESIASTES: Lesson 2

The key to understanding the wisdom found in the Book of Ecclesiastes is hidden in three words: "Under the Sun".

 

At a time when Israel was a peace, King Solomon, with all his wisdom and wealth, decided to dedicate his life to find the answer to the question: "What is the purpose of life?" To do this, he attempted to experience all that life had to offer--good and bad.

"And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit." (Ecclesiastes 1:17)

The Teacher in Ecclesiastes makes it clear that life "Under the Sun", without God, is a paradox--in pursuit of what is believed to be the answer when it is not (Proverbs 14:12). It is vanity. It is vexation (a grasping for the wind). It is meaningless. It is hevel!

This brilliantly written book takes the many ways man attempts to find meaning and purpose apart from God (wealth, pleasure, status, career, etc.) and shows how they are all like chasing the wind. A hamster spinning mindlessly on a wheel within a cage going nowhere. Hevel!

In the end Solomon summarized his findings in one simple, yet powerful verse:

"Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of every human being." (Ecclesiastes 12:13)

Regardless of our particular trials and struggles we are to "fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of every human being."

ECCLESIASTES: Lesson 1

Ecclesiastes - "How to enjoy life"

There are two voices in the book of Ecclesiastes--the author (son of David) and the teacher (Qohelet: Hebrew word for one who gathers people, or a teacher/preacher).

 

Another Hebrew word, HEVEL, is used 38 times in the Book. It means smoke or vapor (sometimes misinterpreted as "meaningless"). Life is hevel, not meaningless, but confusing, disorienting, and uncontrollable.

As you read the 12 chapters in Ecclesiastes, the voice of the "teacher" draws you towards three very disturbing, hopeless conclusions--each an apparent attempt to support his thesis: "You think using Wisdom will bring you success...you'd better think again because life under the sun is meaningless (hevel)."

1. TIME: Generations come and go and in the end you, and everything you have done, will be forgotten. The march of time will eventually erase you and me and everything we care about.

2. CHANCE: Life is random and nothing can be controlled. Since you can't control your life you should stop trying.

3. DEATH: Death is the great equalizer and it renders meaningless most of our daily activities. It devours the wise and the fool; the rich and the poor, no matter who you are, what you've done--good or bad--we're all gonna die and it is inescapable.

The teacher seeks to answer one main question in this book: "What profit has a man from all his labor in which he toils under the sun?" (1:3)

Even with his hopeless outlook, the teacher knows that learning wisdom and living in the fear of the Lord is the right thing to do. The author collects the teacher's words and at the end of the Book summarizes everything.

The two main messages found in this book are:
1. The vanity of life under the sun (life purely from an earthly perspective);
2. The importance of fearing God and keeping His commandments.

Ecclesiastes is a very effective book designed to show us that we need to stop worrying and choose to enjoy the simple things of life--both good and bad--which are gifts from God. Learn to hold things with an open hand. Your attitude toward the present moment is really the only thing you have control over.

PROVERBS: Lesson 3

This week we completed Proverbs--the 3rd book in our Wisdom Book Series. Next will be Ecclesiastes. We will not have class on Sunday, December 25th, but will have one church service at 10:30. The decision has also been made that we will continue with one church service through the month of January. Bible study will be from 9:15 to 10:15 with one church service beginning at 10:30.

In this week's lesson, I looked at how prayer, belief, and faith are interconnected.

PRAYER: Last week, in preparation for class, I began meditating on one very simple verse in Proverbs--actually it was the second part of a verse: Proverbs 15:8(b) - "...the prayer of the upright is His [God's] delight." I cross-referenced the verse in several translations and commentaries which enlightened me further on the amazing truth that Almighty God finds delight when those who are called by His name pray. God not only answers them, He finds delight in them! (Note: Genuine prayers are the work of the Holy Spirit within the believer).

BELIEF: As we approach Christmas, Christians celebrate a series of supernatural (events attributed to some force beyond scientific understanding or laws of nature) events. A baby boy is born to a virgin woman named Mary. This baby boy grows up and accomplishes numerous supernatural acts. He turns water into wine. He walks on water. He heals the blind and the deaf. He brings dead people back to life. He, Himself, resurrects from the grave after being crucified and sealed in a tomb... and more. The Christian faith is undoubtedly founded on supernatural events.

Listed below are over 260 supernatural events (including 8 dead people being brought back to life) recorded in Scripture. This is not a complete list of the miraculous events and supernatural occurrences. John tells us that there are many more things that Jesus did but if they were written the world could not contain them all (John 21:25; 16:12; 20:30).

As I continued to think about belief, it challenged me further. Why do most--who claim to believe the supernatural events to be true--chose to live in the natural? Isn't the supernatural God of the past and the future the same supernatural God of the present? Can't we assume that our supernatural God expects us to have a supernatural belief?

How does what we truly believe affect how and when we pray? If we choose to walk in the natural, our prayers will, at best, be nothing more than hopeful pleas of desperation during times of personal crisis? Prayer is our opportunity to develop a relationship with the living, supernatural God. Remember, He delights when we come to Him in genuine prayer (Proverbs 15:8).

A wonderful example of belief is found in the story of Lazarus. Martha was pleading to Jesus to heal her sick brother, Lazarus. Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and their brother Lazarus, but He delayed two days before going to Lazarus. During that time Lazarus died. Later, after Jesus brought Lazarus back to life, we see Jesus telling Martha, "Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?" (John 11:1-44)

Without the supernatural, the Christian faith would have no basis. Although the Christian life is based on a belief in the supernatural, most Christians live their lives solidly grounded in the natural. The Christian who walks daily with our supernatural God understands the supernatural power of prayer and desires to develop a growing relationship with Him through prayer. Interceding for those God puts on your heart becomes an exciting opportunity to strengthen ones faith and grow closer to God. 

"For those who live according to the flesh (natural) set their minds on the things of the flesh (natural), but those who live according to the Spirit (supernatural) set their minds on the things of the Spirit (supernatural)." (Romans 8:5)

FAITH: Our belief drives our faith. What we believe directly impacts the depth of our faith and how we act. "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." (Hebrews 11:6)

"It is only a faithful person who truly believes that God sovereignly controls his circumstances." (Oswald Chambers)

What do you really believe?  We need to be honest with ourselves as we contemplate the answer to this very personal question. As Christians, we say we believe the supernatural of the past and hope in the supernatural of the future. If so, do we walk daily with a supernatural God? Do we believe that He delights in our genuine prayers? Do we believe that our prayers--given to us by the Holy Spirit--have supernatural power? Are we eager to come together and pray so that God might show us His delight as He answers our prayers?

During this Christmas Season, I encourage you all to think about the supernatural events upon which validate your identity with Christ and secure your place in Eternity. When you abandon the natural for the supernatural, you will finally be able to walk in the fullness of God's purpose. Why would you want anything less?

PROVERBS: Lesson 2

Why study Proverbs?

Proverbs is devoted to the development of character more than any other book in the Bible. The highest goal of the Christian is to become like Christ in character. 

"For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His son..." (Romans 8:29)

The greatest need in the Christian community today is godly character! A person with godly character is not merely one who professes to believe certain truths, but one who practices them (James 2:14-26).

1. Godly character is influenced and developed by our choices! Daniel was a good example of this when he "...resolved not to defile himself..." in Babylon (Daniel 1:8). It comes down to integrity.

"The integrity of the upright guides them." (Proverbs 11:3a) "Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out." (Proverbs 10:9)

2. Godly character is the result of the Holy Spirit's work of sanctification. It is the constant manifestation of Jesus in the believer's life where purity of a heart for God (Matthew 5:8) becomes purity in action.

3. Godly character is strengthened through trials.

"We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." (Romans 5:3-4)

4. Godly character is developed by controlling our thoughts (Philippians 4:8), practicing Christian virtues (2 Peter 1:5-6), guarding our hearts (Proverbs 4:23; Matthew 15:18-20), and keeping good company (1 Corinthians 15:33).

5. Godly character sets a good example for others to follow.

"Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us." (Titus 2:7-8)

As we develop godly character, we are then able to discern character in the lives of others. One of the greatest things you can teach your children is how to recognize character in another individual. It will protect them from being influenced by the wicked, violent, dishonest, and gossipers (Proverbs 1:8-19; 29:24; 17:17). It will help them find the right mate (see slide 13). As a parent, there is no greater joy than when your children walk in truth (3 John 4).

The more we learn of God and develop His character in our lives, the more satisfaction, contentment, and identity we have in our relationship with Him. It is then that we can understand the essence of 2 Chronicles 7:14 and the power within:

"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I [let them] hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."

God waits for us to humbly come to Him in intercession for those He has placed on our hearts. There is no greater work than the miraculous work of intercessory prayer--a great opportunity to partner with God and experience a supernatural miracle through prayer!

Christmas Party 2016

PROVERBS: Lesson 1

Proverbs is, without a doubt, one of the most valuable books in the Bible. It is God's detailed instructions for His people to deal successfully with the practical affairs of everyday life--and it is available to you and to me!

Today we looked at the introduction to this powerful resource. Thanks to the Bible Project, we have two great summaries of the entire book; one is in an animated video format, and one showing a short, but detailed video outlining the "big picture".

Proverbs: Animated Overview

Proverbs: Bible Version Overview 

In the introduction, we hear from a father giving his son instruction: "Listen my son to your father's instructions" (1:8), and four poems from Lady Wisdom. The words of this wise father establish the moral logic of the entire book. The four poems given by Lady Wisdom (1:20-33; 3:13-20; Chapter 8 and 9) claim that we live in God's Moral Universe where goodness and justice are objective realities that we ignore to our own peril.

As we continue to unpack this amazing book, we will see that it is a book for every person in every season of life; it's a guide for living wisely and well in God's good world.

Next week we will continue with Proverbs as we answer the question: Why study Proverbs?

PSALMS: Lesson 2

Today we completed the Book of Psalms; the second book in our Wisdom Book Series. Although I say "completed", we didn't even begin to scratch the surface of this amazing book. I hope you will explore the treasures found in the Psalms more fully on your own. Take time to read, explain, and sing the Psalms to your children. Help them memorize a short Psalm. It will stay with them forever. Just as I said in class, the first scripture I ever memorized as a young boy was the 23rd Psalm and it is still in my memory today.

It's hard to include all of the high points from today's lesson in this short blog, but I've listed a few below. We started with a short review and then focused on the 4th and 5th most downloaded Psalms by the over 100 million users of the YouVersion App:

Psalm 139: This Psalm celebrates the omniscience and omnipresence of God. There is, perhaps, no other place in Scripture where the "bigness of God" is as strikingly set forth as we see in Psalm 139. One scholar wrote, "Both in loftiness of thought and in expressive beauty of language, Psalm 139 stands preeminent, and it is not surprising that it has been called 'the crown of the Psalms.'"

Psalm 23: It is difficult to determine the exact occasion of the writing of this Psalm, but there is evidence that King David writes this Psalm after reaching maturity or adulthood. In verse 5, he was old enough to have enemies. In verse 4 he was facing the danger of death. In verse 3 he was experiencing rest, and in verse 5 he was experiencing prosperity.

David's adult life was filled with grief and heartbreak--mostly the consequences of his many poor life choices and disobedience to God (2 Samuel 12:9; Deuteronomy 17:17). David may have been in the darkest hour of his life when he penned these beautiful words, "The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want." You can feel David's deep conviction by his use of "my" as he describes his Shepherd. He then quickly follows with "I shall not want."  This shows the acknowledgement of his great need and complete surrender to the One he calls "my Shepherd."

David understood sheep. He knew they were very timid, social animals that were completely helpless and in need of a shepherd. He also knew that they were foolish, dependent, and apt to wander. It's only fitting that he compared us to sheep. As it says in Isaiah 53:6, "We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way..." Just as sheep, we too need "the good Shepherd" to guide, defend, protect and care for us.

As we read in John 10:27-28, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:" When we realize our great need for the Shepherd, we too will learn his voice and hear it when He calls. In a short video, we saw how sheep hear and respond to the voice of their shepherd:

Sheep Hear Shepherd's Voice

Next week we will begin Proverbs -- our 3rd book in the Wisdom Book Series. Class starts at 9:15 during the month of December as we have one worship service at 10:30.