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Are You Blind? John 9 Introduction: In chapter 7, John records that Jesus went up to Jerusalem during the Feast of Booths. John describes his stay in Jerusalem from that point through chapter 10. In that time, the Pharisees attempted to arrest him and twice tried to kill him. Their response was triggered by Jesus’ repeated claim that he came from the Father, existed before Abraham, is the “I Am” of the “burning bush” text, and is one with the Father. When we are confronted with Jesus’ claims, it is evident that if he is lying, he would deserve to be stoned. Jesus has claimed that if we do not commit our lives to him we will die in our sins and be lost eternally. By these claims in this Gospel, Jesus is confronting us with every ounce of his being. We must not only consider whether we believe, but whether we will continue in the kind of faith and commitment that reflects the definition Jesus gives for a disciple. The choice is clear, and in John 9 Jesus truly challenges our hearts. The Story Jesus’ stay in Jerusalem during the eight days of the Tabernacles Festival, highlights the boldness of Jesus when he proclaimed, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Jesus just told the world that every person is living in darkness and he is their only hope of obtaining light and life. In typical John fashion, John presents the fifth sign given by Jesus to illustrate and confirm Jesus as God in the flesh. After nearly being stoned in the Temple, Jesus departed, and as he and his disciple traveled, they passed by a beggar who had been born blind. This is the only place in the NT that we are confronted with a man born blind.  The disciples immediately took the opportunity to ask a theological question: “Who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Their question was typical of Jewish theology and the same claim made by Job’s friends. However, Jesus corrected them saying that his condition was not because of sin but so that the “works of God might be displayed in him.” Jesus then made two proclamations: “We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day…”  “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” There is the setup, now Jesus will go to work. Without a word to the blind man, Jesus stooped down, spit in the dirt and made mud. Then he took the mud and smeared on the man’s eyes and told him to go wash in the pool of Siloam. The man obeyed Jesus, went to the pool and washed, and came back seeing. Simple as that. The blind man is first confronted by his neighbors. They can see the resemblance, but it was so odd that his eyes were no longer blank and he no longer stumbled along, that at first they could not be sure. Finally, they asked him—“How were your eyes opened?” However, the man knew very little about his own story. “A man named Jesus anointed my eyes of mud and told me to wash.” Further, “I do not know where he is.” It was evident that this man did not even know who Jesus was. Therefore the neighbors, being the “kind” people that they were, and being that it was the Sabbath, decide to take him to the Pharisees. No, they couldn’t throw a party. They couldn’t rejoice and be happy for him. They couldn’t praise God. They are so brainwashed by the Pharisees that they can’t even reason! How could this man “see” if it weren’t for God? Can’t you “see” that! The scene then turns from a blind man made to see, to Jesus who was responsible for disrespecting the law of God on the Sabbath day.  The reaction of the Pharisees when confronted with a clear miracle, presents us with a cultural shock. Today we would label these men as “The Gestapo.” It was evident that everyone was afraid of them, so much so that the townspeople would even report each other if there were the slightest hint that the Law had been violated. When asked how he was made to see, the man was to the point: “He put mud on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.” The judgment of the Pharisees was quick and easy: “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” A sinner certainly would not be able to do a miracle! Are we seeing the blindness in people who claim they see!  Now that the judgment has been made, the Pharisees turn to the blind man and put him on the hot seat: “What do you say about him.” In other words, are you going to agree with us or not? Watch out what you say! You will get in trouble! Just tell them what they want to hear! No, not this man. He looked them square in the eyes and said, “He is a prophet.” In other words, this was Elijah like. It is the best conclusion he had at the moment, and it was a good conclusion.  “Okay, something is wrong here,” the Pharisees are thinking. The guy just couldn’t have been blind. This is a big ruse, and we will uncover it. So they call his parents. Now can you imagine how nervous the parents are? They have been called before the Gestapo, and their whole life and livelihood is at stake if they say the wrong thing. “Is this your son? Was he born blind? How does he now see?” The parents answered, “He’s our son and yes he was born blind, but how he sees, we do not know; he’s a grown man, ask him yourself.” Very adeptly they escaped being thrown out of the synagogue and excommunicated. So the Pharisees are thinking, that didn’t work, let’s grill the man again and get to the bottom of this. Okay okay, they say to the blind man, we believe you were born blind and that you have been healed. So let’s just settle this. Here’s your way out of predicament you are in, just give glory to God and agree with us that this man is a sinner. Piece of cake, and you can go free. But the blind man isn’t buying it. He sees right through these hypocrites, and he isn’t going to lie for them. What happened to him is too wonderful, too amazing. How could anyone not be convinced of Jesus at this point! The discussion that follows is beyond funny. The blind man answers, “Well, I don’t know about him being a sinner, but I know this, I was blind and now I see!!  Ha! That answer didn’t fit the Pharisees’ desired outcome. So they asked, “What did he do to you?” They are like prosecutors who are frustrated they cannot get the answer they want, and so they badger the witness. The blind man has a great answer: well, I already told you that. Would you like to hear it again so you can also become one of his disciples?  That sent their heads spinning! So they reviled the man: “We follow Moses, we don’t even know where this man comes from.”  The blind man now has them nailed to the wall. “Why that is an amazing thing. You don’t know where he comes from and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God doesn’t hear sinners. God listens to those who do his will. It is obvious that this man is not a sinner! Since the world began, it has never been heard of that the eyes of a man born blind wold be opened!” Oh how brilliant you are as the spiritual leaders of the people! So what does a hypocrite leader of the people do when they have been exposed? They simply disregard his argument, say they won’t be taught by someone who was clearly born in utter sin, and cast him out! That settles it!  Jesus was not present during any of this discussion. But when he heard that the man was cast out, he searched for him and found him. Now it will be Jesus who asks the questions: Do you believe in the Son of Man? “Who is he sir, that I may believe?”  “You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.” 2. “Lord, I believe!” — and he worshiped him.  Jesus then concluded with a one sentence sermon: “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.”  As luck might have it, a few Pharisees overheard his words and asked, “Are we also blind?” And Jesus answered, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt, but now that you say, ‘We see,’ you guilt remains.” That’s the story. Let’s highlight a few things.  How Does the Sign Challenge Our Lives? When tragedy interrupts our lives and often crushes us, do we consider that God uses these circumstances to display the works of God? As is typical of all of us, we are too shortsighted. We cannot see beyond our disruption or beyond our pain. All we care about is getting it fixed. But God is about displaying his glory through us.  God is still working, and has been since the beginning. For a short time, Jesus was on earth and the light of the world. But in John 14:12, Jesus proclaimed that we are now called to do greater works than he did and that he will be with us. It is time to work while it is day.  Verse 22: “His parents said these things because they feared the Jews.”  First, The parents represent a class of “believers” that John has repeatedly mentioned, that of believers who “believe” facts about Jesus, but are unwilling to make the commitment required by Jesus. Second, just listen to those words: they feared the Jews. This is not the first time John has noted this. In 7:13, John recorded that no one spoke openly of Jesus, “for fear of the Jews.” John is directing us to see the historical conflict between light and darkness. The blind man’s parents were forced to make a decision–and so are we. Those who compromise are blind, but think they see. Blindness comes from a lack of knowledge of God. “Knowledge” is a key throughout the text. These leaders think they know, and that is why they are blind. It is a copout to make a decision to compromise commitment to Christ when you have not truly pursued a knowledge of Him. Consider: Did his parents believe Jesus healed their son? Obviously. But would they confess it? Would they even stand with their son? No. Why not? They feared the Jews. One day these parents will stand before the Lord. Who will they fear now? Huge mistake. Mark 8:38. And by the way, their son was not influenced by their cowardice! It is amazing how many people will excuse their unbelief because of their parents.  Do you believe in the

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The Greatest of These Is Love 1 Corinthians 13 Introduction: Let me begin with a “softball question.” What is the primary reason there were divisions in the church in Corinth? We could come up with all sorts of reasons. They were following different teachers. They overlooked immorality. Some didn’t believe in the resurrection. People wanted to eat in the idol’s temple because they had the best dinners. In worship, many wanted to show off their special gifts. And we could go on. But none of these, not even the doctrinal differences, were the primary reason for divisions in Corinth. The primary reason for their divisions is, they didn’t love each other.  Nothing has changed today. Churches split today or members get upset and leave. What is really amazing is how often one side (whether the “leavers” or the “stayers”) jumps up and down and says, it is because of a doctrinal issue. I’ve seen it time and again, and it wasn’t doctrinal. It was one group or both groups who simply stopped loving. And once that lack of love got irritating enough, a doctrinal issue came to the surface and was used as an excuse to split. In 1 Corinthians 1:10, Paul commanded that these brethren “all agree, and that there be no divisions among you, that that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.” To obey that command, what must be the first step? Love!  Paul’s Introduction to Love: 13:1-3 It is significant that Paul places his discussion on love toward the end of his letter instead of the beginning. In essence, it is Paul saying, “Now that I’ve shown you the total mess you have made of God’s church, let me show you the root problem and how to fix this.”  12:31 “…and I will give you a still more excellent way.” Throughout chapter 12 Paul had been showing the Corinthians the proper use of their gifts, and primarily how those gifts should be used together to build up the body. But to simply give instructions on the use of the gifts is not enough. Paul uses the word “still” to indicate, “Let me take you to a higher level…something more excellent than just knowing some rules.” This approach is so important! God cannot foresee every problem in a church. Therefore, the “still more excellent way” is to teach love so that no matter than circumstances, the problem will be solved. These first three verses make it obvious that the Corinthians have an inordinate concern for their own personal importance. Paul uses hyperboles or exaggeration to indicate that that which we personally attain has no significance without love: tongues of angels, prophetic powers, all mysteries, all knowledge, all faith to remove mountains, give away all I have, deliver my body to be burned…”  In other words, we can be the greatest of the greatest in what we do for the Lord, but without love, we are a noice maker, we are nothing, we gain nothing! Without love, we are simply an irritating gong that keeps annoying everyone around. Did you know that this happens in baseball and football teams? A player can be a superstar, but the disruption he brings to the locker room causes him to be cut or traded. Remember, Paul’s beginning message was, “I preach Jesus Christ and him crucified. Why is this true? Because “love builds up” (8:1).  The Attributes of Love Love is Patient – long-suffering; to endure patiently, wait with patient expectation. A person who “forebears” another is a person who is able to wait for someone without complaining, to put up with another’s weaknesses, mistakes, and idiosyncrasies.  This is so hard for us, and we typically give very little slack to others. instead of patience, we get irritated. When you have made mistakes and done foolish things that affected other, how many times would you have liked to have said, “Please deal with me gently; be patient with me; I’m working on it.”  We are all at varied levels of growth. Consider your foolishness when you were young and how many people patiently waited for you to grow.  Love is Kind.  Kindness is a reflection of God. Ephesians 2:5-6, “raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”  Ephesians 5:32 “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”  Definition: “gentle, obliging, gracious.” God’s kindness is illustrated in his mercy and compassion. Kindness is part of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22).  Love does not Envy. Envy comes from comparing ourselves with others to see if our “status” is superior or adequate. This was going on between the Corinthians over their gifts. Love does not Boast.  This word in its various forms is used 30 times in the Corinthian letters. It was a key sin of the Corinthians and their false teachers.  4:7 is one of the best explanations: “For who sees anything different than you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?  The point is clear. Everything we are, have, or have accomplished, is what we have received from the Lord. Therefore, in what will we boast except in what the Lord has done? Love is not Arrogant/Puffed Up.  Obviously, this is very similar to the “boast.” In this case it is flaunting the significance of oneself and one’s standing.  It is reflected in Jesus’ rebuke of the Pharisees in their long robes, their lengthy public prayers, and their insistence that they be give titles such as “father” and “rabbi.”  Love does not act this way because love is set on the care and needs of others and therefore has no interest in self-promotion. Paul’s “foolish boasting” of his boasting in 2 Corinthians 11 illustrates how he was willing to allow himself to be last so others could be first. Love is not Rude — Does not behave Rudely.  This word is used only one other time in the NT (7:36): “If anyone thinks that he is not behaving properly toward his betrothed…let them marry—it is no sin.”  Thus, being rude is to “act unbecomingly.” It seems to connect well with boasting and arrogance in that one’s inflated view of self causes unseemly behavior—treating others as below you or beneath you.  Love does not Insist on its Own Way — Is not Self-Seeking.  10:24 clearly addresses this principle: “Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.”  10:33 “Just as I try to please everyone is everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.”  We live in a society that constantly promotes boasting, arrogance, rudeness, and self-seeking in mediums like Facebook, Instagram, and Tic-Tok.  Love is not Irritable — Provoked to anger — not easily Angered. ESV adds, “or resentful” (mrg: Greek: “does not count up wrongdoing.” The NIV: “Keeps no record of wrongs.”  We really do not need and explanation of that, do we? Can you imagine how much better we would be at loving if we followed these words? When we struggle with this, consider what God did for us: Romans 4:8 “Blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”  2 Corinthians 5:19 “In Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them…”  If we appreciate and want this blessing from God, we must give this same blessing to each other. It is love to the highest degree. Love does not Rejoice at wrongdoing, but Rejoices with the truth. Or, NIV, “Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth.” If we love like God loves, we are never happy about evil or wrongdoing even when it includes a person taking unlawful retribution against those who have done evil. Concluding Applications Please think about where God’s priorities are. Truth and knowledge of God’s word matters to God. Speaking truth, hearing truth, and practicing truth are extremely important to God. “You shall know the truth and the truth will set you free.”  But in 1 Cor. 8:1 Paul placed love as a priority over knowledge of the truth. “Knowledge (by itself) puffs up; love edifies.” Christians have long concerned themselves so heavily on whether we are teaching and following what is right that it has resulted a people who act is if nothing else matters. This is not only arrogance (who knows and understands all truth?), but it has resulted in strife, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, quarreling, and a general atmosphere of biting and devouring one another.  Love bears all things Love believes all things Love hopes all things Love endures all things Love never fails Therefore, what is required of us from this text? Read it again and put your name in every place that love is mentioned. Everyone of us will see ourselves falling short. Everyone of us has serious work to do. We cannot afford to neglect growing in love!  Berry Kercheville The post 1 Corinthians 13:1-7 The Greatest of These is Love appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.

Don’t Waste Your Life Ecclesiastes 12:9-14 Introduction: The words of the Preacher have taken the failed life of Solomon and warned every person about how easy it is to waste your whole life. No, you won’t waste your life in the eyes of the world because the world has a different standard on how success and failure is judged. To illustrate, to the worldly mind, a man like Solomon was a success and the apostle Paul was a failure (in the mind of the carnal Corinthians).  The Preacher’s Encouragement: “You Are Going to Die” Ha! What a way to start a sermon! Doesn’t sound very encouraging! Oh but it is. “The day of death is better than the day of birth. It is better to go to the house of mourning…for it is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart” (7:1-2).  Consider this: how many times do you think the name “God” is used in Ecclesiastes? It is used 34 times not including the many times God is implicitly referenced by context and pronouns. In spite of the emphasis on life under the sun (life without godly considerations), the Preacher’s focus is the impossibility of taking God out of the equation. Look at the text before us: 11:9 “…for all these things God will bring you into judgment.”  12:1 “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come…”  12:7-8 “…and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, all is vanity.” Notice how these sentences come together. How long before the “spirit returns to God who gave it?” Lake a breath! Like a vapor!  12:13 “The end of the matter; all has been heard: fear God and keep his commandments…”  12:14 “For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.”  These words are not intended negatively. These are encouraging words because this is reality, and we have the opportunity to get ready for it. The Preacher’s Epilogue: The Words of the Wise (9-12) The Preacher obviously places himself in the category of those inspired by God. His words are “given by one Shepherd.” Notice that he gives words that are delightful , that is, they are words to be desired and will give pleasure to the hearer. And they are words of truth. A person could argue with his words, but the practice of the rest of his life under the sun would prove him wrong.  Notice in verse 11 the value of the inspired words given by God, the one Shepherd.  They are like goads. A goad is a prod to move a farm animal in the direction desired. Goads are pointy at the end so that the animal is more motivated to move. At first thought, you wouldn’t think we would need a goad. But that is why the word of God is so important. We tend not to make changes in our lives. We get comfortable. But the word of God is intended to make us uncomfortable so that we move to where God wants us to be. Therefore, though God’s word can be of great comfort, it also has parts that are described as a “two-edged sword” that penetrates the “thoughts and intents of our heart” (Hebrews 4:12).  God’s word is also like “nails firmly fixed.” A firmly fixed nail or screw is what we use to hold shelving and other heavy objects on a wall. The word of God is the only thing in the world that we can depend on to hang the future of our lives.  Jeremiah 10:23 “I know, O Lord, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps.” As much as we would like to think so, we are completely incapable of directing our own lives without without totally destroying ourselves.  Think of how this applies to marriage & How it applies to parenting. Notice also the word “Shepherd.” That is the position God is taking with us. We are like sheep, completely helpless to preserve out lives. When the Lord is our Shepherd, we shall not be in want. Vs. 12: “Beware of anything beyond these—of the making of many books there is no end.”  Give attention to the word, “Beware.” This is not a suggestion. It is a strong warning about all writings that are not “given by one Shepherd.” Isn’t it interesting that nothing has changed in 2500 years. The message of God’s word still competes with the writings and wisdom of man. There are millions of books telling us how to raise kids, have a great marriage, how to get the most out of life, how to solve stress/anxiety, and every other concern that living life under the sun brings. This isn’t to say that all books written on these subjects are bad. To be sure, some are from a strong biblical perspective, applying God’s word in practical ways for today’s culture. But the challenge is, when our lives are those painful tribulations, are we turning completely to the one Shepherd? Who is turning to Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song? For example, just in Ecclesiastes, who is remembering: “What is crooked cannot be made straight”? “And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure…and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind…”?  “There is nothing better for a person than to eat and drink and find enjoyment in his labor…for apart from him who can eat and who can have enjoyment”?  “Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and striving after wind.”?  “Two is better than one…and a threefold cord is not quickly broken”?  “He who loves money will not be satisfied with money”?  “A good name is better than precious ointment”?  “In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider…”?  “Enjoy life with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life the he has given you…because that is your portion in life and in your toil…”?  “…the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong…but time and chance happen to them all”?  “Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good. Dead flies make the perfumer’s ointment give off a stench.”?  “Cast your bread on the waters, for you will find it after many days…He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap.”?  “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come…”?  We just studied all of the above, are we remembering it and living it?  The End of the Matter: What Makes You Whole? (13-14) The word “duty” is not in the Hebrew. NKJV translates, “This is man’s all.”  What is “man’s all?” What makes man whole? What is everything our lives ought to be? Fear God and keep his commandments. That’s it!! Stop seeking it every place else! It is chasing the wind. How foolish. Jesus said it: “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” (John 6:35) “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” (John 6:51) “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.” (John 6:53-56) “For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.” Are you ready for Judgment? Or are you chasing the wind? Fear God and keep his commandments, and the blood of Jesus will cleanse you from all sin. Conclusion: Don’t waste your life Berry Kercheville The post Ecclesiastes 12:9-14 – Don’t Waste Your Life appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.

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How to Live Life Ecclesiastes 11:7–12:8 Introduction: “Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; vanity of vanities, all is vanity.” The Preacher began his sermon with these words and ended his sermon with these words. It sounds so depressing, so hopeless. But if that is what we are thinking when we hear these words, we are sorely mistaken! There are two reasons we are mistaken: First, we are not reading “vanity” the way the Preacher intends it. As nearly every biblical scholar points out, the Hebrew word carries the idea of vapor, that which appears for a moment and then vanishes. In fact, 11:10 removes all doubt. No one, under any circumstances, even considering it as “under the sun,” would say that childhood and youth are meaningless, as translated by the NIV, or futility as rendered by other versions. To emphasize further, NASB deviates from translating “futility” when they come to 11:10 and they translate “fleeting.” Yes! That makes sense, especially in the context: “Remove vexation from your heart, and put away pain from your body, for youth and the dawn of life are fleeting.” Second, when we realize that the Preacher has been teaching us that finding joy and pleasure under the sun is fleeting, soon vanishes without permanence, and therefore does not give lasting profit and fulfillment, he doesn’t mean we can’t find joy and pleasure in this life! And that, is his message in this conclusion of his sermon. Rejoice, Remove, Remember! (11:9–12:1) Verses 7-8 are the introduction or foundation for the rest of our text. Do not let the uncertainties of life and future (3-6) cast a pale of discouragement over your life. “Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun.” God has given us a wonderful gift of light and life. Every morning when the sun comes up we should be thankful and rejoice. Light and the sun are a daily message from God, just as the cloud and the fire in the wilderness, that God is present and only he is the ultimate source of life and light. John even begins his gospel with, “In him was life, and the life was the light of mankind” (John 1:4). In fact, these words are not only metaphorical, going outside and feeling the sun and the light helps defeat anxiety and “vexation.” Remember the Covid shutdown. Depression was rampant. In the next three verses, the Preacher turns to those who are young. Young people, this is the best of the best! These admonitions need to be examined carefully and repeatedly rehearsed to make sure you are staying on track. Verse 9: “Rejoice in your youth…” It is very possible that those of you who are young have thought God doesn’t want you to find enjoyment and pleasure. It is not so. Even Paul makes this point in 1 Timothy 6:17, “…do not set your hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.” There are many things your “eyes” and your “heart” may want to explore and enjoy. But there is a warning in the text: All things that you choose will be brought into judgment before God! Therefore, consider how you should navigate this period in your life. Obviously, to involve yourself in anything sinful or that will weaken your spiritual life must be excluded. This means you must continue to make careful evaluations of what you might pursue. Therefore, there are at least two considerations: First, youth is when you will be pursuing a career. Your choice can greatly affect your spiritual life! If you choose a career that typically requires a lot of extra hours and time away from home, that will have a significant affect on your marriage, your family, and your walk with God. Warning! Do not allow the glitter of more money affect the priority of God and your family! The second consideration is that recreational activities can become addicting to the point that God, the church (God’s people), and your personal spiritual growth get little attention. This is super dangerous and sinful! Recreation is an idol in America, and Christians have too many times bought into this idolatry. Remember, it is quite easy to revert to “life under the sun” — chasing the wind… and all is vanity. Verse 10: “Remove vexation from your heart and pain from your body…” “Vexation” is translated different ways: “pain, sorrow, troubles, anger, worry, anxiety, emotional stress.” “Pain” in the Hebrew indicates, “troubles, calamity, disaster, evil, wickedness, that which is harmful.” In all, the idea is, pay attention to Proverbs! There is a cause and effect to everything you do and everything you choose, and everything you say. As NIV states, “Banish” these activities from you life. Let’s get something straight: everyone suffers the consequences of their actions and words, and young people are the ones most susceptible to this. When you deal with the above—pain, sorrow, troubles, anger, and emotional stress—look at yourself first! You are the most likely source of your misery, and there is no sense in that happening, especially in youth. The concluding words of verse 10 are significant! Your days of youth are going to disappear like a vapor, never to return. Don’t waste these beautiful years! 12:1 “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come…” If you are young, you may not realize the full significance of this exhortation. Consider why this is valuable: First, as the text points out, the early years of your life is when you have the most desire, the most energy, and the most flexibility with your time. That will change in a very short time, especially if you get married and have children. Second, it is in your youth when you set the course of your life. If you begin by choosing a path in which you compromise your spirituality and commitment to God, it will become increasingly difficult to change that course. Third, the sins of youth, (“sowing your wild oats”), result in a major scarring of your mind. Those sins create strong memories and increased temptations in your life even after repentance. Fourth, you have no guarantee that you will repent. You have no idea how deep you mind goes when you stay in sin and you far away from God your heart is moving. And that is true even if you still “go to church.” 12:2-7 A fun metaphorical picture of old age and death. As we read it, we typically get a chuckle out of the descriptions. But once we have had our laughs, we need to understand how serious the Preacher is. The journey death is inevitable. Therefore, there are two truths that are inevitable: “The spirit returns to God who made it.” This fact is out of our control. It is going to happen whether we accept it or not. We will go back into the hands of God and God will control our ultimate destiny. It is only now that we have a choice. “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.” Read those words this way: Everything is going to fly by with incredible speed. You have a very short time to make the right decisions. Conclusion: Therefore, “Rejoice, Remove, and Remember!” Berry Kercheville The post Ecclesiastes 11:7 – 12:8 How to Live Life appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.

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Strengthened with Power in Your Inner Being Ephesians 3:14-21 Introduction: Take a moment and think about the content of your prayers. What do you pray about most? When Paul prayed in Romans 10:1, he said, “Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.” Paul explained prayer as that which originates from the deep desire of the heart. We all pray about what concerns us, and we are evidently not concerned about matters we do not include in our prayers. Prayer expresses desire. Prayer exposes the desires of our heart.  In my personal studies, I have been searching for foundational themes that are not ordinarily observed in the NT letters. Our tendency is to notice what is immediately obvious but miss messages that are critical our growth and discipleship. In this lesson, we will look at one of the neglected messages in Ephesians. Ephesians has obvious applications in chapters 4-6, and if we have been good observers, we are super impressed with God’s purposes in chapters 1-3 that all things are to be to the praise of his glory. However, what is often easily passed over, is Paul’s prayer. His prayer begins in 1:15 and concluded in 3:14-21.  The question for us is, do we care about this prayer? Is this prayer the desire of our hearts and the expression of our words to God?   Seeing the Main Emphasis 1:15-20 Simply put, our eyes need to be opened and enlightened to know God’s purpose that we will be “his glorious inheritance,” and to know “the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us” (illustrated by the resurrection and glorification of Jesus in the heavenly places. Paul’s sentences are long, and thus his words can be complicated. But notice especially the last words, “the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us.” God’s power toward us is the key to the rest of chapters 2-3 and is the main message of the conclusion of the prayer in 3:14-21.  Therefore, notice this emphasis in 3:14-21. Vs. 16: “that you may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner being…” Did you notice the power and strength in the inner being. It is not difficult to understand why we need strength in our inner being. Discouragement is not uncommon for all Christians, especially as we think of our failures. Sometimes we think, “Will I ever get this together?”   Vs. 17-18 “…that you, may be rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth…”  Vs. 19 “…to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” Vs. 20 “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly…according to the power at work within us…” Vs. 21 “…to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” The verse bookends the first three chapters. 4:1 “I therefore…urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called…” This verse is the pivotal point of the Ephesian letter. This is the reason for Paul’s prayer. We must walk worthy of our calling, but what is needed is the fulfillment of the prayer! Learning the Prayer “I bend my knees before the Father, from whom the whole  [NASB; NET] family in heaven and on earth derives its name…”  We read this so easily, but how amazing that Paul is doing what we all can do and directly appealing our Creator and Father, to the one who is Father over the whole family, whether that family is in heaven presently with him or that same family who are still on earth.  It is this whole family that derives our name from him. “…according to the riches of his glory he may grant you…”   The appeal is that God will take the inexhaustible riches of his glory and share that with us. God’s purpose has always been to glorify us so that he may be glorified. “…to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.”  Notice that the power comes by the strength of the Spirit, which then brings about the indwelling of Christ in our hearts. To have Christ dwelling in us and the work of the Spirit, or even the Spirit dwelling in us, are deeply connected and are referring to the same principle. Some might be confused by this, thinking that since these Ephesians are already Christians, isn’t Christ and the Spirit already dwelling in them? True, but Paul is speaking about something greater, a process that is fulfilled in degrees.  The above is solved by understanding the two Greek words that are translated by “inhabit” or “dwell.”  The first word is referenced by Paul in 2:19 when he speaks of strangers and aliens. These temporarily inhabit a place, but it is not their home. They are briefly living away from home.  The second word, the “dwelling of Christ in our hearts,” refers to a permanent dwelling place, an abiding home. Christ living and abiding in the heart of the Christian.  Colossians 2:9-10 “For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him.” In the same way the fullness of God dwells in Jesus, so the fullness of Jesus is intended to dwell in us. The contrast is a place to lodge while on a journey and the Master of a house dwelling in his own home. We have become the Master’s dwelling, and where he dwells is where he rules, and where he rules he conforms the house to reflect who he is and all his fullness.  If Christ has made his home in you, you are going to look like he lives there! “…rooted and grounded in love…” You will notice that “love” is used again in verse 19 in reference to the “love of Christ.”  “Rooted and grounded” are metaphors of a well-rooted tree and a house built on a solid foundation. The message is that our lives are lived by a strong, solid, deep love we have for God, knowing his love for us. Our relationship with him is rooted and grounded in love. Therefore, we are not just obeying commands. This is the key to our stability in living in Christ and pursuing Christ about all. If it is not grounded in love, it is not grounded!  “…strength to comprehend…and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge.”  God wants us to comprehend the love of Christ in its breadth, length, height, and depth. We might say that Christ’s love is large enough to reach the worst sinner and high enough to exalt us to the greatest heights of heaven. His love is beyond our own ability to truly grasp, just as his riches are unsearchable. One person said, “Doubtless we shall spend eternity exploring his inexhaustible riches of grace and love.” (Stott) “…with all the saints…” The strength to comprehend the love of Christ can only be attained with all the saints. Just as John said, we cannot say we love God whom we cannot see if we do not love our brother whom we can see (1 Jn. 4:20-21). We need all the people of God living and abiding together to understand the love of Christ. What a statement! It is so true!  “…that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”  The Greek word translated “with” in most versions does not properly impact us with the message. The word is eis (“for the purpose of, unto” – ASV, NET). In other words, the idea is to bring us to the fullness of God — becoming in every way like him in the depth of “our innermost being.”  It is truly a radical thought, an intimidating goal and ultimate purpose of God as he uses “the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us.”  We have finished the prayer, and you see Paul’s lofty request, but that is not what is most important. Is this your heart’s desire? Is this your prayer? But why should that be our heart’s desire? Why should that be our prayer? Is it just because it would be really cool to come to the very fullness of who God is? “Well sure,” we might say, “but just to be saved is good enough for me!” Oh! That chapter division has again caused us to stumble. “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called…” Did you chose to follow Christ? Well, this is it! This is what you chose! No, no, you didn’t choose to simply be baptized to escape your sins. God did not free you from something; he freed you for something. This is about what God wants and God’s purpose for himself. This is not about what we want or what we would prefer. This is his plan, his story, and Ephesians 3:14-21 is the “rest of the story!”  How Do We Get There? First and foremost, it is done by the “immeasurable greatness of his power” that was demonstrated in the resurrection of Christ, with the same resurrection power used to bring us into the fullness of God. It is done by the strength and power of God through his Spirit. People like to define every detail of how God uses his power, but it is not necessary. If we had read simply that  we are “strengthened with the power of God in our inner being,” we might not be so interested in knowing how. God does it, and the Spirit is God’s representative to accomplish our change. When Paul told the Corinthians that he was revealing to them the mind of Christ through the Holy Spirit, we certainly know that access to learning about the mind of Christ in the revealed word is necessary to reach the goal. But if that were all there is to it, why did Paul pray? Look at the life of Joseph, or any of God’s faithful. How did God bring them to his fullness? Yes, he revealed his will to them, but he also was a continual part of their lives, whether in the trials of Job or circumstances beyond our control, God is transforming us.  Vs. 20-21 summarizes all we need to know: “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” Look at the words: exceedingly — abundantly — above — all.  Exceedingly, abundantly, above, all that we ask or think. We can’t even imagine it, but he can do far more. “To him be glory in the church…” This was the beginning of Ephesians,

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