Read Ecclesiastes 11

We are nearing the end of our walk-through Ecclesiastes and today we look at one that has financial principles for investing but also principles that we could apply elsewhere in life such as in relationships.

By casting your bread on the waters, dividing to 7 or 8 portions, most believe is a clear reference to financially diversifying one’s assets and not keeping all your eggs in one basket. However, relationally, think about your contact with coworkers, customers, and acquaintances. What is the witness of your life to all of them?

Some things just happen in life. Clouds rain when they are full, trees fall. Looking for quick fixes by chasing the wind and avoiding the hard work of diligently planting seed will never produce and abundant harvest. Even a windfall cost somebody.

There are things that we can never fully understand. Even medical science does not understand everything about how a child develops in the womb. It is complex and there is a sense of wonder at the miracle of life and the mystery of life starting with the joining of two cells. You don’t know all the work of God and that is ok. Simply be faithful. Work. Use your mornings and evenings well. Diversify where your time is spent, have balance. What I mean here is do not be a workaholic but also do not be an entertainment consumer. Balance is key. It is good to rest and even to be entertained. It is good to work hard but too much of anything, any extreme not wise. Live, enjoy hat God has created during the brief years he has you on this earth. Your ultimate purpose is to know God and enjoy Him forever if you are His child.

...Solomon also warns against a perversion that we are apt to engage in. this is a text that I have preached from and written on many times: “Rejoice, young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth, and walk in the ways of your heart, and in the sight of your eyes; but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment. Therefore remove sorrow from your heart, and put away evil from your flesh; for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.” Ecclesiastes 11:9-10 WEB

The temptation is to pursue pleasure in your youth, to throw caution to the wind and life recklessly thinking that that is how to enjoy life. Following your heart, contrary to the message of the culture, is condemned by the Lord. Following your eyes and heart is a sure sign of going a direction that merits God’s judgment. Simply removing bad feelings, being moral and being young alone are meaningless. True meaning, as Solomon is going to paint so clearly in our last chapter tomorrow is found a person: Jesus Christ alone. He is the only Way, Truth, Life . . .

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Read Ecclesiastes 10

Today, I am going to take a little bit different approach. Rather than summarizing the entire chapter, I’ve selected a few verses to mediate on. Take a little time to contemplate each one instead of reading through a lesson.

“Whoever carves out stones may be injured by them. Whoever splits wood may be endangered thereby. If the ax is blunt, and one doesn’t sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings success.”

Ecclesiastes 10:9-10 WEB

A craftsman or laborer can be injured by the very work he does. In Solomon’s day and for millennia past, most humans worked physically. Even today, the majority likely do in Third World countries. Yet, while our work can injure us, we need sharp tools in order to work smarter and not harder, and in order to be successful.

“The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but a fool is swallowed by his own lips.”

Ecclesiastes 10:12 WEB

God’s wisdom produces a gracious demeanor and does not puff up with arrogance. God’s wisdom makes one a servant, the world’s wisdom makes one domineering. In foolish moments, it is my mouth which has caused me to err. But when abiding in the Spirit, God imparts a graciousness and compassion for others that is totally contrary to the sinful nature.

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Read Ecclesiastes 9

Solomon clearly states his point that all die whether sinner or righteous, fool or wise. This event is reality in life. Because of the curse, all people, no exceptions, ALL people will die one day. Solomon bemoans this from the perspective of a man who has lived a worldly life. Living for this world only causes despair toward coming death and the phrase, “life is brief and meaningless.” Hmm, that phrase sounds a lot like what I hear from atheists today.

In Christ, we do not have to fear death. Where is death’s sting and victory for those who are in Christ. We will enjoy Him and be in His presence forever!

Verse 6, makes a very important point. Ghosts are not real, the dead cannot intermeddle with the affairs of earth. Evil spirits are real, demons, but people, once dead, do not come back or haunt you.

In verses 7-10, Believers reading, we need to go live life. Eat your daily bread with joy. Enjoy what God has given you to drink. Stay pure and clean. Stay reliant on the Holy Spirit. If you are married, enjoy life with your spouse whom you love! This is our lot in life. Work at whatever your hand finds to do, for God has created us to labor while we are here. These things are not always easy, but they are good.

Although we all will die, wicked and righteous, fool and wise alike, life is still better to be spent in wisdom’s camp. Properly worshipping God leads to wisdom.

To apply Solomon’s exhortation to our lives today, contemplate his closing words:

“But I say that wisdom is better than might, though the poor man’s wisdom is despised and his words are not heard. The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools. Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.”

Ecclesiastes 9:16-18 ESV

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Read Ecclesiastes 8

There are some things that we will never attain. We cannot interpret the mysteries of God. Wisdom is our guard and guide to do the right thing, in the right time and the right way. We cannot know the future. We cannot control spirits. We cannot control when people die (we may think we can, but we cannot for our very breath is in God’s hand alone). Just as you won’t be discharged in war, our inherent wickedness as human beings is not removed. We are in bondage to sin unless God does a miracle of grace through faith in the shed blood of Jesus.

Our sin will find us out. Yet because of the reality that both the righteous and the wicked experience hardship and ultimately death, the fool turns to mirth rather than godly sorrow which will in turn lead to repentance and abundant life in Christ.

In conclusion, here are a couple gems that stood out to me as I read today:

“Though a sinner commits crimes a hundred times, and lives long, yet surely I know that it will be better with those who fear God, who are reverent before him.”

Ecclesiastes 8:12 WEB

“then I saw all the work of God, that man can’t find out the work that is done under the sun, because however much a man labors to seek it out, yet he won’t find it. Yes even though a wise man thinks he can comprehend it, he won’t be able to find it.”

Ecclesiastes 8:17 WEB

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Read Ecclesiastes 7

Usually, the things we don’t like and what is not pleasant are good for us. Remember eating vegetables as a kid, having to speak in front of a group of your peers or being stretched on the job or in the classroom? Those challenges were formative.

Solomon notes many things that are actually good for us though they are painful:

• · It is better to have a good name than smell nice (probably making the point here that looking good doesn’t matter as much as having true character)

• · Death is better than birth. For the Christian, death merely ushers us into Christ’s presence!

• · It is better to go to a funeral than a banquet. Your heart may just learn something about the shortness of life and realign your priorities

• · Sorrow is better than laughter. The wise in heart spend time in the house of mourning but the fool simply turns to what makes them laugh and feel pleasure.

• · Extorting others or taking a bribe destroys clarity of mind and the ability to do what is right.

• · It is better to complete something, to get to the end than to start.

• · Having a patient spirit is better than a proud spirit.

• · Don’t be hasty to be angry, quick anger is foolish.

• · Note, verse 10: it is not good to ask why the past was better than the present. O how many in every generation waste away pining for they “good old days” and thus never are fully present in the present and therefore fruitless.

• · Having wisdom is as good as having an inheritance. You may never receive a monetary inheritance but you can obtain wisdom if you fear the Lord.

• · Wisdom is a defense and preservative in your life.

• · God alone can straighten out what is crooked in the world and in people. We cannot.

• · Enjoy when you prosper. When you face adversity, consider that God has made both prosperity and adversity for a purpose.

• · Righteous and Wicked will die one day.

• · Don’t be overly righteous (a hypocrite, religious) neither seek to be overly wise (wherein is arrogance).

• · Fearing God is to be the foundation, the focus of our lives for only when we properly worship can we properly live.

• · Not even God’s people are perfect.

• · Do not listen so carefully to every word you hear or you will be locked in bitterness and self-despair.

• · More bitter than death is a wayward woman. The foolish woman, the brazen woman of proverbs will destroy a man. The women in your life will literally, literally make or break you, men. Take heed! Don’t fool around with this truth! The one who pleases God will escape her (verse 26).

• · Rare is the godly man or woman who heeds these admonition.

Sadly, consider verse 30: even the upright, those saved by Christ’s blood, often turn aside to schemes of their own temptation, evil desire and the world rather than abiding in Christ. Christ alone is all we need to focus on. Everything else will fall in place when Christ is on the throne of our lives. We need not fear and scheme about our provision, our calling, our career, our marriage, our __________, Christ will lead but we must put Him first.

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Read Ecclesiastes 6

Solomon continues noting paradoxes of man’s achievements and desires yet stating the fact that these things do not satisfy, there is a God shaped hole in our heart that only God Himself can satisfy and out of His filling, He can then provide enjoyment of the simplicities of life as well. Solomon reiterates his message so often because repetition is often the only way we learn.

Solomon, talking of man apart from God, continues to despair:

· Having riches, wealth and honor (Solomon did) yet seeing another enjoy those things while God withholds the ability to be content and delight of those in his own life

· Having so many children that one is reduced to poverty and thus does not even get a proper burial when his death comes. In the world’s view a stillborn child (abortion/birth-control/population limit) is better than reducing one’s standard of living. What a misplaced woe of the miserable, despairing heart that needs Christ!

· Man labors for his mouth and for his desire. Yet no matter how many years he lives, if he cannot enjoy these things, then what’s the point of life? The rich often feel the way Solomon speaks of here. The poor man who is not wandering through life with desire is blessed. To be content is better than to be rich. Solomon often mentions wealth. Jesus often spoke of money. Why? Money has an inherent pull on our hearts, we mistakenly assign it the ability to provide happiness and security. When in reality our only security and provision is in and through Christ alone (Matthew 6).

· The feelings and struggles of mankind are the same. They repeat with every generation. Contending with the powers that be in rebellion is not a good idea. Will you really change the world for good through rebellion?

As we close today, apply Solomon’s speech to your life. Are you living your life in the shadows, not clearly seeing but maybe not fully in the dark either? Searching, unsatisfied, having a God-shaped hole in your soul?

“For who knows what is good for man in life, all the days of his vain life which he spends like a shadow? For who can tell a man what will be after him under the sun?”

Ecclesiastes 6:12 WEB

What if today, right now, you yielded up the search, you gave up trying to fill the void. What if you simply, completely surrendered to your Creator Jesus Christ and day by day enjoyed His provision and lived the abundant life He has laid out in the Scriptures? The invitation is open. . .

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Read Ecclesiastes 5

In today’s chapter, Solomon turns to exhortations specifically regarding our mouth and sin. He provides instruction on how we should live. It is interesting how he begins: “Guard your steps when you go to God’s house; for to draw near to listen is better than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they don’t know that they do evil (Ecclesiastes 5:1 WEB).” Solomon begins with how we approach God. How we worship is foundational. Are we sincere and seeking in our worship or are we foolish and preference-focused? We should draw near to listen primarily, not to speak or to do. Every Believer’s lifeblood is feeding on the Word of God.

As we continue in the chapter we see:

· Take heed, your mouth can lead you to sin. Even well-intentioned words like Peter’s “Ill die for you, Jesus,” can be flesh-fruit and not Spirit-fruit.

· Many dreams are not good. I live in a culture that screams that you should believe in yourself and follow your heart/dream. But is that how God instructs us to live? Does it really lead to the abundant life Jesus promised?

· A Believer must fear God. You serve who you fear. Fear is foundational. Not a cowering fear, but a trembling fear out of awe, respect and reverence for God’s power and authority. When I see a great and mighty river, I tremble at thinking of swimming out into the midst of it. The water is strong! Do we have a like view of God?

· Violence, oppression, injustice, political underhandedness, excessive taxation - these things in the world should not surprises us. Don’t marvel at the world’s corruption. It is evil because mankind is evil; because you and I are evil and desperately wicked. But praise be to God that Christ died a bloody death to extend grace to me the worst of all sinners!

· A love of money and materialism is a desire that will never be satisfied. So, it’s better to give it up and seek the One who will satisfy.

· Here is a mystery: a laborer has sweeter sleep though he has little than the rich who has much. A focus on being rich often kills the health and steals one’s peace. Reality is that just as we came naked, helpless, empty handed into this world, so shall we leave.

Solomon concludes with some joyous thoughts!

“Behold, that which I have seen to be good and proper is for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy good in all his labor, in which he labors under the sun, all the days of his life which God has given him; for this is his portion. Every man also to whom God has given riches and wealth, and has given him power to eat of it, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labor—this is the gift of God. For he shall not often reflect on the days of his life; because God occupies him with the joy of his heart.”

Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 WEB

It is a good thing that God gives us enjoyment, that we eat and drink God’s provision! If God gives us abundance, God alone can also give enjoyment of it (the wicked God often gives wealth to make them despair and miserable that they might turn to Him). The heart of God’s favored one will not have to sit and contemplate why his life has gone such and so for God is his present and future joy!

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Read Ecclesiastes 4

Today, we see the paradoxes Solomon observed, and I’ve included principles to help us understand and apply the lessons of wisdom he lists. He begins the chapter bemoaning that the oppressed often have no comforter or deliverer on this earth. Just because you are God’s child does not mean that life will be hunky dory. Problems are not erased. There is injustice.

Solomon continues to note the following things which are not good (I’ve included some applications for us):

• · Labor and achievement that leads to envy - how prevalent is this in your society?

• · The fool who lazily has idle hands which lead to his ruin in life - sadly, the fool can’t be helped. Fools have to learn the hard way if they ever will learn. Based upon the book of Proverbs, wise people listen to others, fools don’t.

• · Having two hands full with labor and chasing the wind - there is wisdom in ceasing to strive with every ounce of your being to achieve wealth and instead enjoying contentment in God’s provision great or small (Proverbs 23:4, Matthew 6).

• · Alone . . . It is not good to not have family or friends - In church yesterday, the sermon was on marriage and I realized that while singleness is a gift, God loves marriage! God designed us for relationship. While God may never call you or me to marriage, He does call us to relationships, albeit not sexual ones. It is not good for us to be alone in living this life. Yet how many are clammed up and bottled up and passive? God knows our true need.

• · The last part of chapter 4, I have difficulty interpreting. It seems to point to the vanity that people are willing to abandon an old ruler in favor of the young and new.

Solomon observes that these are good:

• · It is better to have a handful with quietness - having more often leads to greater anxiety and sin. Wealth makes it hard for many to be spiritual. Observe Jesus’ teaching on wealth and warnings not to set one’s heart on possessions.

• · Two are better than one - God works through teams. He calls individuals, but never does He leave them alone except for Jesus who was deserted by all and bore the wrath of God alone upon the cross in your place. Moses had Joshua, Jeremiah had Baruch, Paul had numerous associates though He was God’s chosen instrument, David had Jonathan. . . God has not called you to be on our own.

• · Better to be young and wise than have power and be old and foolish.

Pursuing wealth at the expense of your family and relationships leads to what? What really is the point of wealth if you can’t share it with others, you love and give generously to true need? What a miserable business that broken people are out there pursuing wealth, even obtaining it, at the expense of what is good and for what? Are the 80 or 90 hour weeks, being on call 24/7, running away from family and friends for a business deal really worth it? Solomon taught us today that many things that we strive after are not good. The good things in life are often simple and yet we ignore them chasing something “big.”

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Read Ecclesiastes 3

Life is meaningless without Jesus Christ. How miserable we are if we seek enjoyment on earth but miss true enjoyment. My desire, as Solomon’s, is to know and enjoy God forever.

There is an often-quoted passage in verses 1-8: “to everything in life there is a season.” We desperately need to recognize this. Everything in life is not meant to be enjoyable. There are seasons. It is painful to develop as a human being and even awkward. I remember having “growing pains” in my legs often growing up. It made it hard to sleep. Sometimes it brought tears. Later as a young man, when my voice started squeaking, it was awkward - my mother thought I had the flu!

There are seasons to everything in life. Birth and death, planting and pulling up by the root, killing and healing, destroying and building, weeping and laughing, mourning and dancing, throwing rocks and gathering rocks, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to lose and a time to hold on to, a time to tear and a time to sew, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and, yes, a time to hate; a time for war and a time for peace. As a Christian, I see the reality of this list played out the longer I walk with the Lord. There is a time to love and offer grace yet there is a time when I must hate my sin and the sin of the world and expose it to Almighty God by the power of His Spirit. There are times to focus on building in my personal life but yet other seasons when I must focus on rooting out and destroying the strongholds of Satan in the power and guidance of the Spirit.

So what’s the purpose of our labors? We have so many seasons of life that we experience, and it seems a burden to experience “good” and “bad” times yet take note of verse 11a, “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in their hearts (WEB).” God, Almighty God of the universe! Our Creator and Sustainer Jesus Christ (Colossians 1:16) makes everything beautiful in its time. The best way I can communicate that, though I do not understand God’s ways nor His full plan (and the rest of verse 11 says that), God is weaving a beautiful tapestry in our lives to bring Him glory and one day it will be its beautiful time of completion! Christ and we will be glorified. God has set eternity in our hearts, the longing to be satisfied beyond the futility of this earth. Let us rejoice in Christ and do good while the Lord has us here!

God’s purposes will stand forever. “I know that whatever God does, it shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it; and God has done it, that men should fear before him (verse 14, WEB).”

From the beginning of history to the present moment, God’s purpose has been the same. Despite the wickedness that reigns where justice should triumph, God will one day bring all to light and judgment. The trails and temptations that test us have a purpose. We will die, yes. We are dust that are given breath by God and when He takes that breath, we will become dust again. But eternity is in the hearts of men . . .

Is Christ your personal Savior and Lord? You are a sinner in need of grace and redemption. Without Christ, your futile hope is to enjoy the work you do on this earth, to make a difference of some kind in your lifetime. But in Christ is life eternal. God took on flesh and dwelt among us and died on the cross as your substitute and my substitute, talking the full wrath and just punishment sin deserves. Those who call upon Him, who believe in Him, will be redeemed and given life eternal. Eternal life is more than a heavenly home—it is knowing Christ. Are you enjoying Him? Is God pleased with you because you are trusting in Christ’s blood spilt to pay the debt on your behalf? Regardless of your feelings today, you can take God at His Word because of the blood of Jesus Christ if you believe.

“This is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and him whom you sent, Jesus Christ. ...for the words which you have given me I have given to them, and they received them, and knew for sure that I came from you, and they have believed that you sent me. I pray for them. I don’t pray for the world, but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.”

John 17:3, 8-9 WEB

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Read Ecclesiastes 2

Yesterday, we saw Solomon paint a pretty bleak picture of life being meaningless, the daily grind, purposeless. Today we will dig deeper into the specific things mankind chases in search for meaning.

Solomon concluded the section of Scripture we call chapter 1, with sorrow and weariness for having gained knowledge and wisdom. Therefore, he tried to find a way to cheer himself up. Here is what he gave himself to (the same things people turn to today) in an attempt to gain some measure of satisfaction. There is nothing new under the sun about these:

• § Mirth (laughter/a good time)

• § Pleasure

• § Make our bodies feel good (physical sensation and sensuality)

• § Intoxicants

• § Undertaking great building projects

• § Making gardens and parks

• § Building beautiful lakes and channeling streams/rivers

• § Amassing servants (or perhaps today more employees/fans)

• § Amassing possessions

• § Building a business empire (example: in husbandry gaining thousands of livestock, in trade gaining increased profits)

• § Enjoying music and song

• § Fame and power

• § Chasing what grabs the eye or captures our desire

Solomon enjoyed these things in the moment, but they never provided enduring satisfaction. He realized that all he had spent his life chasing the wind, living for this life. Solomon experienced sanctifying depression in realizing the futility of his life’s work and that his successor would gain all his labors for nothing. There was no way Solomon could guarantee that his labors would be used wisely by the next generation. There was no way to make sure they would be a blessing and not a snare and a curse.

Solomon realized that both the fool and the wise will die and their legacy will be forgotten (whether as an example to emulate or to shun). Man is desperately wicked. Thus, Solomon hated life. He was grieved. He saw the futility of what he had done and how he had wasted his life chasing the wind (note that many believe that Solomon is writing Ecclesiastes near the end of his life). He realizes that he has been a failure; therefore, his heart despaired. He was depressed. But there is a purpose to this sanctifying depression.

Do you feel like Solomon? Do you sorrow over the plight of life, how you have spent your life chasing the wind, chasing things that don’t really matter or satisfy? Do you have grief and concern over how the next generation will live with the privileges and resources your generation has provided? Can you not rest at night because of the burdens of your heart? There is a purpose to this sanctifying depression. Let God do His work in this season.

Consider the closing verses of this passage:

“There is nothing better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and make his soul enjoy good in his labor. This also I saw, that it is from the hand of God. For who can eat, or who can have enjoyment, more than I? For to the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner he gives travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him who pleases God. This also is vanity and a chasing after the wind.” Ecclesiastes 2:24-26 WEB (World English Bible)

The realization of the futility of life, of the despair pictured in this book are to point us to the One who gives meaning and purpose to life. To the One who redeems our brokenness and sin. To the one who is the fountain of Grace–our Lord Jesus Christ in whom every promise of God is yes and amen! May the Holy Spirit apply this book to our hearts and teach us the lesson of the wisest man who learned it the hard way.

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Vanity of Life & Grief of the Wise

Read Ecclesiastes 1

Ecclesiastes. Why this book? Well it resonates with the point that many experience at one point: a blandness to life, a feeling of purposelessness and chasing the wind. In this Bible book our complaints and struggles find a voice and an answer.

Solomon, David’s son, is the human author of this divine book, and he paints a pretty dull picture of life, doesn’t he? There is a purpose why he is writing this way as we will see as we go on in the book. But here in chapter 1, we see the wisest man who ever walked the bemoan that life is meaningless, vanity, a chasing after the wind. Generations come and go. There is a big craze about the current generation and the generation coming up next but guess what? The cycle will continue, each successive generation perpetually worries about the one coming after it.

Not only is this so with people, but planet earth itself continues its cycles. The sun rises and sets daily. The wind blows year after year. The rivers go back to the sea in the water cycle century after century.

The monotony, the incessant sameness of life can lead to weariness and indeed does for many. There is no satisfaction to be found in the daily grind stripped of purpose and hope. History repeats itself and we neglect to remember what we ought. This is the lesson that Solomon begins Ecclesiastes with.

In response to this bland view of reality Solomon had a good idea, as many today have, to put forth his effort to seek knowledge and wisdom so he could get better! But what we discover, as the demeanor of many professors and even seminarians reveal, is that much knowledge and wisdom lead to sorrow. Understanding that mankind is desperately wicked and is going to continue to make the same sinful decisions of rebellion to God and His ways again and again is wearisome. Human nature is not comforting when it is truly seen.

Solomon is showing us the meaninglessness of life apart from God through Christ Jesus. The atheist has no hope. The despairing Christian sees no horizon. Tomorrow in chapter 2, we will see the specific things that mankind continues to chase and prioritize in hopes to fill the satisfaction void within. All mankind feels it—the realization of the fact that their lives are chasing the wind without a higher purpose. Solomon will point to the answer for lasting hope and meaning in later chapters.

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“LEARN from ME and the Easiness of His Yoke:

Jesus tells us about His Heart and a New Way to Live”

I. There is nothing like being weary to receive the kindness of the Lord. (v.28, 2 Peter 3, James 2:17, 2 Cor 10:5)

II. The call is to a new lifestyle (v.29)

• · Greater works (John 14:12-18)

• · Grow in Grace and Knowledge (Hosea 4:6, 2 Peter 3:18, Proverbs 16:32, 2 Timothy 2)

• · Rooted in truth, not lies (John 14:6, Colossians 2:6-7)

• · You have been Enlisted not oppressed (Romans 12:3, 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, Philippians 4:8-9)

III. The “easy” yoke means that it is well-fitting and comes with a light burden. (v.30)

• · Christ’s yoke sets us free from the stress we bear on our own – worry has no basis, fear need no rule (Matthew 6:25-34)

• · Compared to eternity, all afflictions are light and momentary. We are encouraged to change our perspective. (2 Corinthians 4:7-9,16-18)

We don’t change hearts through the affections,

we get to the heart through the mind.

“Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near.⁷ Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.

⁸ “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. ⁹ “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. ¹⁰ “For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater, ¹¹ So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.”

Isaiah 55:6-11 (NKJV)

“Heavy Laden to Yoked”

Matthew 11, John 15

Ecclesiastes 4:9–12, Matthew 11:25-30

I. We are all yoked, attached , paired, seeking someone or something. (vs. 28-30)

II. Jesus: Take My yoke upon you. This is a new lifestyle. (v. 29)

III. Learn from Me – that’s a process, not an event. (vs. 29)

People are broken, but more than fixing,

we need to K N O W Jesus.

(vs. 29. Hebrews 4:15-16, John 1:12, Ephesians 5)

IV. Our Christian life is a process not a destination. Patience is required with ourselves and others. (vs 29, John 15:12-17)

V. Repeatedly, we have choices to come take on Jesus’ yoke, to abide in His vine; or to go our own way. (vs 28-29, John 15:1-8)

VI. Security, Peace, can only be found in relationship not isolation. (v. 29-30, John 15:4)

VII. But you were created for interdependence not independence. (v. 25)

This Weeks’ Scripture Reading:

“Then He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ And He said to me, ‘Write, for these words are true and faithful.’”

Revelation 21:5 (NKJV)

“Is the Come Urgent”

Matthew 11, Revelation 22, John 5

Jesus’ call is His invitation (v.28)

Urgency of the call (v.28, Revelation 22:17)

Entirety of the call (v.28, Jeremiah 6:24-25, 31:23-28)

Surrender of the call (v.29, Jeremiah 31:34)

Healing because of the choice to receive the call (v29c, John 5:5-6).

Barriers to Coming

Barrier #1: a double-mind (v.2-3, Jeremiah 6:16-19, James 1:6-8, Romans 8:6CSB)

Barrier #2: lack of brokenness – so we buck the yoke. Embrace the blessing of brokenness (v.19, Psalm 24:18, 51:17)

Barrier #3: Desiring to be fixed rather than made whole (v.2-3,6)

Do you want health

….or comfort?

True health is not the absence of difficulties, rather walking thru them with Jesus.

“The Burden of Insecurity and the Fact of Being Chosen”

Matthew 11

1. The Sovereignty of God is rooted in the Fatherhood of God for the Believer. (Matt 11:25, Romans 8:15)

2. Revelation (spiritual understanding) is given to the childlike exclusively. (Matt 11:25-26)

Intelligence isn’t the solution & it’s not the problem.

3. There is an exclusivity to a relationship with the Father. (Matt 11:27, Romans 8:29-30)

How exactly Divine Sovereignty and Human Responsibility to Choose work together is a mystery. But scripture clearly affirms that both are true, like 2 sides of the same coin.

4. While our Triune God is Sovereign, He still invites us to choose what we yoke ourselves to. (Matt 11:28-30, Galatians 5:1)

5. APPLICATION: The Father loves you: your identity is in who you are in Christ, not what you accomplish. (Romans 8:31-39)

Message: REST Series

“Background and Message”

Matthew 11

Look/Observation

1. The Search for Salvation through the Messiah. (Matthew 11:1-6) The One, The Leader

• People want to be led & taught

2. The Completion of the ministry of the Old Testament Prophets. (Matthew 11:7-19) Foretelling vs Forth-telling.

• Telling forth of repentance and judgment and the Coming of the Messiah. Heralding – the great privilege of John the Bap was ushering in Christ’s ministry.

3. The Rebuke of the unrepentant. (Matthew 11:20-24)

4. Jesus Prays a famous passage. (Matthew 11:25-30) Prayer was the context for this famous passage

• dig in more in the weeks ahead *not get through the passage but let the passage get through us

• Jesus prays this passage age responding to John’s discouragement, reminding the crowds that John’s ministry and the Law pointed to Him, after rebuking those rejecting His invitation to salvation, Jesus then prays: thanking the Lord that all who come and come repeatedly, those who humble themselves before the Lord will be helped by the Lord.

5. Twofold meaning of Matthew 11:28-30:

• A. Theological: not only salvation by grace in contrast to doing religion but

• B. Practical: a call to a new system of life. Jesus’ way. To discipleship – notice “learn of me.” It’s a process, it’s a progressively growing relationship. Its hard to be intimate with the Lord when we’re distracted.

Wherever you find yourself today. Wherever those we know and love and even the stranger we don’t know find themselves. The Lord says one thing: come.

In this segment of the Genesis 1 to Revelation 22 Project, we are still implementing soap but in a “devotional manner.” We will still look at the text and draw our observations from the text and seek to apply faithfully. However, the whole segment will be done in a prayerful manner, seeking to engage our hearts and our minds upon Christ and His truth.

SOAP: Read Scripture > Observations on the Context > Apply Faithfully > Pray the Scripture

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Mount of Olives

Today, read the Word of our Lord Jesus and look at the signs that will take place before He returns. Honestly, many of these have been happening ever since He ascended to Heaven. Such will be the climate of His return:

And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? 4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. 6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows. 9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. 10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. 15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) 16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: 17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: 18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. 19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! 20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: 21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened. 23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. 25 Behold, I have told you before. 26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. 27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 28 For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together. 29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: 30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. 32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: 33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. 34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. 35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. 36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. 37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. 43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. 44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. 45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? 46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. 47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. 48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; 49 And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; 50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, 51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

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In this segment of the Genesis 1 to Revelation 22 Project, we are still implementing soap but in a “devotional manner.” We will still look at the text and draw our observations from the text and seek to apply faithfully. However, the whole segment will be done in a prayerful manner, seeking to engage our hearts and our minds upon Christ and His truth.

SOAP: Read Scripture > Observations on the Context > Apply Faithfully > Pray the Scripture

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Temple Destruction Prophesied

And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple. 2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

Jesus let His disciples know that one day, the Temple would be torn down. His prophecy was proved around 70 AD when the Jews rebelled against Rome and were crushed. Is there a “Temple” the Lord is telling you not to place your trust in, 1) because you are placing your trust in it and not the Lord or 2) because it is going to Fall?

Ryan's Books on Amazon

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In this segment of the Genesis 1 to Revelation 22 Project, we are still implementing soap but in a “devotional manner.” We will still look at the text and draw our observations from the text and seek to apply faithfully. However, the whole segment will be done in a prayerful manner, seeking to engage our hearts and our minds upon Christ and His truth.

SOAP: Read Scripture > Observations on the Context > Apply Faithfully > Pray the Scripture

Subscribe now

God’s People have been Discarded over the Ages

Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: 35 That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. 36 Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation. 37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! 38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. 39 For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

The Lord had been sending men of God to warn the people for centuries, yet the people at times responded roughly, with persecution, and even murder. The hearts of the people hearing the preaching had not changed. It seems the same today, doesn’t it? We see in this passage a great representation of Jesus’ compassion. Look at how He tenderly says how He desired to gather Jerusalem together as a mother hen gathers her chicks under her wings. Jesus understands that the house is desolate—the people as a whole have rejected Him and His own disciples would flee Him soon. . . . But one Day Jesus knows He is returning to rapture His saints and set up His earthly Kingdom. The People of Jerusalem will see Jesus again. How will they respond then? Well, the Bible says that every knee will bow:

As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. Romans 14:11-12 (KJV)

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9-11 (KJV)

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