Learning To Be Satisfied--Study on Ecclesiastes

Learning To Be Satisfied

Study on the Book of Ecclesiastes--Lesson 17

Ecclesiastes 8

Introduction:  What about the wicked?  King Solomon comes face to face with the problem of evil in the world.  Does God know about it?  Does he not have the power to stop it?  Solomon solves the problem of evil by putting things in their proper perspective.  7:29  During the darkest days of WWII a preacher was asked why doesn't God stop the war?  His reply was "He didn't start it".  Solomon explores the problem of evil in the world by examining three key areas of life.

1.  Authority (vs 1-9)  Beginning with Nimrod (Gen. 10:8,9) and continuing down the centuries millions of good people have been oppressed by bad leaders.  Even Solomon put his servants under much bondage.  (I Kings 4:7-28; 12:1-14) 

When a servant was commanded to do something evil, wisdom told him that there were 4 possible approaches:  (A)Disobedience-vs 2.  The servant must be true to his oath of allegiance to the king and to God.  (Rom 13)  The officer could obey the orders so as to avoid punishment. (vs 5)  Disobedience could lead to death (Dan. 4; Rom. 13:3,4)  We all have misery, so why add to it? (vs 7)  (B) Desertion--vs 3.   "Be not hasty to go out of his sight." (C) Defiance-vs.3 "stand not in an evil thing." Don't get involved in a plan to overthrow the kin, what it is saying.  Acts 5:29 is applied when it comes to conscience and the law.  How we express our disagreement with the authorities demands wisdom and grace.  (D) Discernment vs 5-6.  The wise servant  understands that "time and judgement" must be considered in everything we do.  David did not impulsively reveal himself to his brethren. (Gen. 43-45)  Nehemiah waited, watched, and prayed (Neh 1,2).  Daniel used wisdom in proceeding with his captors (Dan 1).  The apostles used discernment when they were arrested (Acts 4,5).  It is not easy to be a consistent Christian but we can ask for wisdom and receive it.  (James 1:5, 3:17, 18)

2.  Inequity (vs 10-14)  Solomon summarizes his concerns in verse 14.  There is more injustice in this world than we care to admit. 

A Spanish proverb:  "Laws, like spider webs, catch the fly and let the hawks go free."

F. Lee Bailey said, "In America an acquittal doesn't mean you're innocent, it means you beat the rap."

Verse 10--Solomon is reporting on a funeral he is observing, this person had attended the temple, received much praise from the people but did not live a godly life.  Judgement was not placed on his life, yet (vs 11).  God is a longsuffering God and may not judge sin immediately.  II Peter 3:11,12.  Solomon concludes that evil will be judged and the righteous will rewarded (vs 12, 13).  The exercise of wisdom is very important to understand this.  (Prov 9:10).

The Law of Faith--Proverbs 3: 1-6

Key Verse:  vs 5-6

Introduction:  In essence, it is a life of faith that is determined by the law of faith.   (Heb. 2:4) (II Cor 5:7) (Romans 14:23)  Faith is defined in Hebrews 11:1 as "..the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

To Martin Luther, faith was so much a matter of believing in propositions as of trusting in a Person.  Man was created to trust God only and wholly.  Anything less is faithlessness and godlessness.  "Faith is a lively confidence in goodness of God.  Faith demands of us:

1.  The Decision of Trust (vs 5)
   A.  Human impotence "feebleness" is the secret of divine competence "ability".  (II Cor 12:10)
     Quote:  J. Edgar Hoover once wrote:  "When one leans on his own understanding, lives by his own strength, boasts of his own
                  accomplishments, and claims he is his own master, the result is untold suffering.  Even through his position is maintained and
                  his material wealth increases, success quickly turns to failure when God is forgotten.  There is no peace of mind, no personal
                  satisfaction, no experience of true inner joy.  To trust in the Lord with all the heart is a mark of strength!  It is the only path to
                  true fulfillment."
   B.  This decision of trust calls for a capitulation, "surrender', to Christ.
         1.  "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart." (vs 5)
         2.  In Hebrew psychology, the heart is not so much the seat of emotions as that of the intellect and will.  Thus the invitation is to
              personally trust -- surrender your will to Christ. (Total allegiance) (Yield One's All)
              Illus:  C.T. Studd understood this:  He said:  "If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice is too great for me to
                         make for Him."
   C.  This decision of trust calls for a renunciation ("rejection") of self.
         1.  "...lean not unto thine own understanding."  (vs 5)
         2.  Either we renounce self, or we captiulate ("succum") to self and renounce Christ.  *So many people want to grasp the Savior
              with one hand while they hold the world with the other; it cannot be done.  We must follow the Savior without reservation.
             Illus:  A lady visiting Niagra Falls was crossing a little bridge over to one of the falls.  She saw the swirling waters beneath her
                       and she began to panic.  She frose!  The guide said, "Put your hand into my hand!"  She did and was guided to safety.
                       Christ is our Guide!

II.  The Devotion of Trust (vs 6)
   A.  "In all thy ways acknowledge Him..." (vs 6)
          1.  Praciticing the presence of Christ moment by moment involves more than learning of Christ in the Word and speaking to Christ
               in prayer.
               *It means unbroken fellowship with the Lord through a life of unqualified dependence and obedience.
          2. Every moment Jesus should be thinking through your mind, looking through your eyes, speaking through your lips, working
              through your hands, walking through your feet, and loving through your heart. (Phil. 1:21)  "For me, living is Christ."
              Illus: For many living is money, fame, sports, or sex.  You can tell what dominates ones life after five minutes of conversation.
    B.  We must daily serve the pleasure of Christ. (vs6)  "In all thy ways acknowledge him..."
          1.  Christ while on earth consuming passion was to please His Father. (John 4:34; 8: 29)  As a result God could say of His Son:
              This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." (Matt 3:17; 17:5)
          2.  Our supreme delight should be to please the Lord Jesus in everything.

III.  The Direction of Trust (vs 6)
   A.  "In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."  (vs 6)
          1.  God seldom guides a soul that follows afar off.  He will not reveal His way to the ear that will not listen.  (His will is revealed
               through His Word.)
          2.  God's power will remove obstructions in ones life.  Word "direct" is used in Isaiah 40:3, which means "to clear a highway in the
               desert".  Thank God we don't have to grope in darkness.  (Ps 23:3) (John 8:12)
           Quote:  A great writer of the past said:  "When once the decision is made, let us never look back.  Let us never dare to supposed
                        that God would fail them that trust Him or permit them to make a mistake.  If difficulties arise, they do not prove us to be
                        wrong, and probably they are less by this path than they are by any other.  Go forward!  The way has been prepared, the
                        mountains are a way; the rivers have fords, the lions are chained, the desert shall be a highway to the land that flows with
                        milk and honey."
           3.  See John 10:4
   B.  God's promise to reveal instructions to us.  (vs 6)  "He shall direct thy paths"
           1.  Word of God is God's road map for us.  It is our Guiding Light.
           2.  We are lead by the Spirit of God according to the Word of God.  God's promise to lead His own will never fail.  We have the
                 guidance of grace of Heaven.  Make the journey with Jesus.  Start today!

It's Time To Be Faithful--First Timothy Chapter 2

Service or Circus

Let all things be done decently and in order is a basic principle for the conduct of the ministry of the church.  Paul is exhorting young Timothy because the members of the church in Ephesus were disobeying God's Word.  Paul counteracts this tendency, by reminding them of their spiritual responsibilities.

1.  The Men--Praying vs 1-8

     A.  The priority of prayer--vs 1

            Our hearts must be right with God and with each other.  Matt. 6:5

           When a local church ceases to depend on prayer, God ceases to bless its ministry.

     B.  The variety of prayer -- vs 1

           Supplication carries the idea of offering a request for a felt need.  Prayers emphasizes the sacredness of prayer.  Prayer is an act

           of worship, not just an expression of our wants and needs.

           Intercessions -- petitions--I Tim. 4:5 -- its basic meaning is to draw near to a person and converse confidently with them.

           Giving of thanks--we need to not only give thanks for answers to prayer, but for who God is and He does for us in His grace.

               Ps. 100

           Prayer and supplication with thanksgiving.  Phil. 4:6  Daniel practiced this kind of praying.  Dan. 6:10-11

     C.  The objects of prayer -vs- 1-2 "all men"

           There are no people outside the influence of believing prayer.

           We should pray for the unsaved, people nearus and far away, for enemies as well as friends.  For those in authority.  Nero was

           emporer.  It is for our own good. Vs 2.

           Quiet refers to circumstances around us and peaceable refers to a calm attitude within us.

     D.  The reasons for prayer vs 3-4

           The word good is a key word in Paul's pastoral epistles--I Tim. 1:8, 18; 2:3; 3:1; 7, 13; 4:4, 6; 5:4, 10, 25; 6:12, 13, 18, 19;

           II Tim. 1:4; 2:3; 4:7; Titus 2:7, 14; 3:8, 14

It's Time To Be Faithful--First Timothy 1:18-20

I.  Preach Sound Doctrine  1:1-11
II. Proclaim the Gospel  vs 12-17
III. Defend the Faith vs 18-20

   Paul uses military language "Charge" which means "an urgent command handed down from a superior officer" I Tim. 1:3
   The soldiers task is II Tim. 2:4 and not please himself.
   Vs 19--He changes illustrations from army to navy.  "Hold faith and a good conscience" which keeps us on track.
   The conscience can be defined as "the inner voice which warns us that somebody may be looking".
   Professing Chrsitians who "make shipwreck" of their faith do so by sinning against their consciences.
   Bad Doctrine starts with bad conduct and usually with secret sin.
   "Delivered unto Satan" vs 20 - implies an apostolic discipline.  I Cor. 5:5 and disassociation from the local church.  The verb "learn" vs 20 means to learn by discipline.  When a Christian refuses to repent, the local fellowship should exercise discipline.  Matt. 18 excluding them from the protective fellowship of the Saints which maeks them vulnerable to the attacks of Satan.  Job 1-2; Luke 22:31-34.  Churches should be balanced exposing Satan.  John 8:44, I Tim. 4:1; and preaching sound doctrine. 1:10.