SERMON NOTES FOR FEBRUARY 28, 2011...

An age old question that has been debated by philosophers, written by poets, sung by musicians, and ponder by people for centuries is this question...

"What is the meaning of life?"

Many have attempted to answer this question in a number of ways. Over the next few months we are going to be discussing and answering this age old question in a sermon series I have entitled, "LESSONS LEARNED UNDER THE SUN" taken from the book of Ecclesiastes.

Before we beginning this study some background info is needed.

AUTHOR
I believe Solomon wrote it (Ecc. 1:1) and deeper knowledge about him is needed to better understand this book.

Solomon had power
He was king. David chose him as his successor, passing over his older sons. In 1 Chronicles 28:5, David says, "Of all my sons (for the Lord has given me many sons) he has chosen Solomon my son to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel."

Solomon had fame
His fame was spread throughout the land. We are told that everyone was in awe of Solomon and came from all around to hear from Him.

Solomon had money
He ruled during the "golden age" of Israel. The magnificence and splendor of Solomon's court was unrivaled. He had vast stores of wealth and fleets of ships bringing him gold on a regular basis.

Solomon had women
He had seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines. Though they got him in trouble, especially the wife he married from another nation who turned him away from God, Solomon had women.

Solomon had wisdom
God gave Solomon wisdom that is unparalleled in human history. He is the wisest man to ever live outside of Jesus Christ. He studied numerous subjects and wrote three books of the Bible (Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon and Proverbs).

In 1 Kings 4:32–34, we are told,"(Solomon) spoke 3,000 proverbs, and his songs were 1,005. He spoke of trees, from the cedar that is in Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of the wall. He spoke also of beasts, and of birds, and of reptiles, and of fish. And people of all nations came to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and from all the kings of the earth, who had heard of his wisdom."

Simply put, Solomon had it all, experienced it all and in this book writes about it all.

REASON FOR WRITING
Ecclesiastes is a book about the meaning of life and in it Solomon raises questions that the rest of the Bible was written to answer. Questions like, “Why are we here? What’s the point?”

In this sermon series we are going to look to Solomon to help us answer the age old question of “The meaning of life?"

INTRODUCTION
Like I said earlier, I believe Solomon wrote this book, and we have already discussed that he is a fascinating human being. You would think with all that he had and had experienced that he would be able to write this incredible book on how to live life to the fullest, how to get rich quick, how to become popular, how to be an influencer, at the very least, that life is good. I mean surely we are going to hear something like that from the man who had it all.

Solomon, however, begins this book by telling his readers that the whole world is a mess. He basically says, “If you are looking for meaning in this life only--in the here and now, you might as well hang it up, because 'All is vanity.'" In v. 2 he says, "Vanity of vanities...vanity of vanities! All is vanity."

The Hebrew word for vanity is the word hevel. This word is very important used 38 times in the book and 5 times in verse 2.

Hevel has a broad definition so to simply say that it means meaningless or vanity won't cut it. Although it does mean those things, it also means absurd, dissatisfying, futile, deceitful, temporary etc.

So when talking about life under the sun, Solomon is making the point that life is all of those things. What he means by using the word hevel 5 times in this verse is that life is the ultimate hevel. The point he is making is that life is ultimately meaningless, ultimately futile, ultimately absurd, ultimately dissatisfying and ultimatly short-lived.

After making this point, Solomon asks an appropriate question in v.3. He says, "What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun?" He is basically saying, “If that’s the case--if all of life is hevel, what is the purpose in the effort we are putting forth?" And the answer is, "There is no advantage because in the end we die." Talk about depressing. It can be overwhelming when we consider Solomon's mindset.

But before we get too depressed, we need to make sense of the phrase "under the sun" used at the end of verse 3. If hevel is the key word in the book, this is the key phrase of Ecclesiastes used 29 times in the book.

This phrase means "Life under heaven." When Solomon uses this phrase he is giving a horizontal and limited perspective. He is looking solely at life on the earth. No revelation. No God breaking in. No God revealing anything. No God speaking. He is just looking at life on the earth. If you just looked at life and asked yourself, “Why do I work so hard and then die--What is the point?" Solomon’s answer is "There is no profit, no benefit and no gain 'Under the Sun.'”

CONCLUSION
The reason Ecclesiastes is such an important book of the Bible is because it asks questions and addresses issues that the rest of the Bible was written to answer. And what we learn as we read the rest of the book is that the best way to live life under the sun is to live life in the SON.

The Scriptures are clear that there is purpose and meaning and significance in this life, but it has to be lived in the SON.

Verse 3 is the key question that all of humanity has to ask. "In all of my work, in all of my pursuits, in all of my endeavors in life--What is the profit?" Solomon says “There is no profit or advantage 'under the sun.'" Jesus says, “There is profit and there is advantage in me.” Solomon says “There is no lasting satisfaction in life under the sun.” Jesus says, “There is lasting satisfaction in me.” Solomon says, “Life under the sun is tiresome.” Jesus says in Mt. 11, “Come to me you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.” Solomon says, “Ultimately everything is meaningless.” Jesus says, "If you trust in me this short breath--this short vapor of life will be extremely meaningful."

THE BEST WAY TO LIVE LIFE UNDER THE SUN IS TO LIVE LIFE IN THE SON.

"Quote" of the Week

"The wealth and pleasures of the world do not satisfy, and the quest for power and position is futile. In Jesus Christ we have all that we need for life and death, time and eternity." -Warren Wiersbe

THINKING ABOUT...

If many in the church were honest when asked about the Lord Supper, a majority of people would probably admit to having little if any understanding of why we do it. This past Sunday I spoke to our church about how we should think about the Lord's Supper according to the Scriptures and below is a summary of what was said.

THE LORD'S SUPPER IS A MEMORIAL

And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, 'This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.' And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, 'This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.' Luke 22:19-20

This passage is clear that one of the purposes of the Lord's Supper is that it is to serve as a reminder to God's people of the person and work of Christ—that Jesus came from heaven to earth and gave his life for us.

When Jesus says, "This (bread) is my body" he is saying that when we take the bread, we are to remember that God took on flesh and dwelt among us--we are to remember Immanuel--meaning God with us. When he says, "This cup is my blood" he is saying that when we take the cup, it is to serve as a reminder to us that Christ gave his life and shed his blood for us.

THE LORD'S SUPPER IS A COMMUNION

In 1 Corinthians 11, Paul is critical of how the Corinthian Christians are taking the Lord's Supper. He says, "When you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, for as you eat, each of you goes ahead without waiting for anybody else. One remains hungry, another gets drunk" (1 Cor. 11:20-21). Paul's point here is that this meal is not just about you and God and you getting close to God as much as it is about you in God’s community taking the Lord’s Supper together.

When the church comes together to take the Lord’s Supper it is to be a communion—a community of people who have gathered for the purpose of recognizing and proclaiming to God, to one another and to unbelievers that might be in the congregation, that God took on flesh and dwelt among us and that he went to the cross and gave his life in our place as a sacrifice for sin.

THE LORD'S SUPPER IS A CELEBRATION

Many churches have a tendency to just look at the Lord’s Supper as a memorial. Though this is important, this meal should also point us to the future. In Luke 22:16, Jesus says, "For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.” The "it" in this verse refers to this meal.

After instituting this Lord’s Supper meal, Jesus tells his disciples “He is not going to eat this meal with them again until it is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God." This future event that Christ is referring to here is when he returns for his church.

There is a day that is coming when Christ will return for his church and after that there is going to be a meal. Revelation 19:9 says, “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” So he is instituting the first meal on this night, but when he returns there is going to be a feast. So what we are to be doing until that time is looking forward to that day by taking this meal.

So the Lord's Supper is a memorial, a communion and celebration in anticipation of that day when the Lord Jesus returns for his own and we have this banquet with him.

"Quote" of the Week

"The Lord’s Supper looks forward to a more wonderful fellowship meal in God’s presence in the future, when the fellowship of Eden will be restored and there will be even greater joy, because those who eat in God’s presence will be forgiven sinners now confirmed in righteousness, never able to sin again." -Wayne Grudem

HOW TO THINK ABOUT...

I recently read an article that was critical of Christians who believe in eternal security. In the article, the argument was made that the “once saved, always saved” doctrine gives those who claim to be Christians a license to sin.

As one who believes in the security of the believer, I would respond to this article by saying that those who have accepted a system of belief that enables them to continue in habitual sin without remorse have not embraced biblical Christianity.

Scripture clearly teaches that when a person is saved his/her desires change for good and though they might slip up and are not perfect, they have a new found desire to live for God. Paul says, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come” (2 Cor. 5:17).

The purpose of salvation is to free people from sin, not to free people to partake in sin. Freely partaking in sin is what we all did prior to salvation. John says in 1 JN. 3:8-10,

Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been
sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God.

Now this doesn’t mean we as believers never struggle with sin. We clearly do. John says in the same book—in 1 Jn. 1:8, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” John, in chapter 3, is talking about habitual sin—he’s talking about those who view salvation as a ticket to ride and think, “I’ve checked that box—I’ve prayed that prayer and can now live the way I want to live.” As I have said before, the Christian life is not to be thought of as “a ticket to ride” but as “a race to be ran and won.”

"Quote" of the Week

Philippians 1:6 (ESV)
"He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."

SERMON NOTES FOR FEBRUARY 6, 2011

Leaning on his fence one day, a man with very little was watching his wealthy neighbor move in down the street. As the man looked on he noticed his neighbor had everything you could think of in the way of material possessions. He had several nice cars, motorcycles, four wheelers, any and every kind of electronic device, brand new appliances, the nicest living and bedroom furniture money could buy, state of the art kitchen supplies and costly wall hangings. As the man with very little looked on he eventually called out to his neighbor and said, “If you find you don’t have something you think you need, let me know and I can show you how to live without it.”

Truth of the matter is that no matter how much we have it's never enough. There is always more isn't there? If your goal in life is getting stuff, good luck with finding joy and satisfaction in that pursuit because there is never enough. Who with this mentality has ever been content?

It's like the famous song by the Rolling Stones, "I Can’t Get No Satisfaction." The song says, "I try and I try and I try and I try—I can't get no satisfaction." In the last few passages of Philippians, Paul is like that neighbor with very little showing Christians how to be content no matter what.

He ends this letter similar to the way he begins—with thanks. Paul basically says, "Thank you—for this gift and thank you for partnering with me." Though he is grateful for the gift, however, Paul also makes it known vv. 10-20 that he would have been content either way.

EXPERIENCING JOY THROUGH CONTENTMENT

TRUST THAT GOD IS IN CONTROL

‎10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity.
‎
A long time had passed since Paul had received support from the Christians at Philippi and like we learned in vv. 14-20, they were one of the few if not the only church that supported Paul. So chances are good that he could have used the money.

But instead of trying to manipulate the situation or coerce them to give, Paul trusts that God is in control. He proves this is his mentality by directing his praise toward the Lord for their generous gift.

The issue with us is that we often fail to see that God is in control, which often causes us during difficult times to question whether or not God is there and if He cares. The reason why it is difficult at times for us to see God at work in our lives and in our world is because the primary way He works in the world is in and through the circumstances of daily life.

Though at times God does do the miraculous by intervening into the natural world and disrupting the normal flow of life, he primarily works through providence. Providence is when God works in and through the laws of nature that He has created—through the systems that He has put into place. With providence, God weaves events and circumstances uniquely together to fit His purpose exactly.

If we are honest, many of us would say that we prefer miracles. Though that is the case, it is imperative to understand that God is just as much at work in and through the systems he has put in place as He is with miracles. Though we only think of miracles being supernatural acts, Scripture clearly indicates that the providence of God is just as supernatural as miracles.

For us to not recognize, give credit to, and be thankful for the providence of God is to do a great disservice to the primary way God works in the world. Whether God is performing a miracle or whether he is working in and through the natural order of things, he is equally involved, equally at work and equally responsible for the direction of things in our life and world.

If we can learn to trust in the providence of God, we can learn to be content in this life.

BE CONTENT NO MATTER WHAT

As I have shared already, being content no matter what is counter cultural especially in the US. Though we are some of the wealthiest people in the world, we are also some of the most discontent people in the world. The reason we struggle the way we do is because we do not know how to be content no matter what. We always want more--"We can’t get satisfaction though we try and we try and we try and we try.”

Paul was content no matter what. He says,

11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.

What Paul is saying here to the Christians at Philippi is, “Though I am thankful for your support financially, the reason I am thanking you is not because I can’t get by without your support, because I can. He goes on to say, “I know how to live with less than enough and I know what it is to have enough to spare, whether I am full or hungry, have too much or too little.”

Paul was definitely satisfied with his place in life both physically and financially because of the state of things in his life spiritually. He made mention in chapter 3that he suffered the loss of all things and considered them as garbage in order to gain Christ. So because Paul valued Christ above all and considered all things as nothing in comparison to Him, he was able to experience peace and satisfaction no matter what.

‎The question for us today is whether we are satisfied like Paul with our place in life or do we always want more and more? John D. Rockefeller when asked how much money is enough he said, “Just a little more.” Is that your mentality? Paul rejects this reasoning and calls for believer to be content no matter what—to be content in Christ.

RECOGNIZE THE SOURCE OF YOUR STRENGTH

In v. 13 Paul writes,
13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

If you like sports like I do you have seen this verse on everything. If it’s football you like, you’ve seen Philippians 4:13 in black ink under the eyelids, if you like baseball/basketball you’ve seen it on the wristbands of certain athletes, or if it’s boxing, you might see Philippians 4:13 on the back of a warm up robe. This verse though one of the most popular, is also one of the most abused and misused verses in all the Bible.

Because this is the case, it is important for us to understand what Paul means when he says, "ALL THINGS." That’s where context comes in. In the prior verses he has been saying, “I can live and be content in any and every circumstance. I can live with little food or with a lot, I can be content if you send money or if you don’t.” The "ALL" in v. 13 refers to circumstances in life.

This verse can literally be translated, “I have strength to face all conditions regardless of what happens by the power that Christ gives me.”

He is not saying, “I can knock out my opponent or bench press 400lbs. He’s saying, “I can endure anything this world may throw at me because I have Christ. He is the key to my contentment—the source of my strength.”

When circumstances get difficult, it is important that we understand that the same God who is providentially in control of everything—who is preserving everything and who is bringing everything to an ultimate conclusion is the same God who can miraculously enter in and give us a peace and a strength and faith to keep persevering and keep enduring so that we can face all conditions regardless of what they are by the power that Christ gives.

CONCLUSION

Where are you on the scale when it comes to contentment? I’m sure it fluctuates, but I would be willing to bet you are not a 10. One thing we all have in common, however, is that we all want to be at that level and are doing all we can to get there. But like Mick Jagger says, “though we try and we try and we try and we try—we can’t get satisfaction.”

The reason being true satisfaction comes from valuing He who is most valuable—namely Christ. True and lasting contentment is only found in Him.

"Quote" of the Week

"True contentment comes only from God, and enables believers to be satisfied and at ease in the midst of any problem." -John MacArthur