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Joy Because of a Sovereign God Daniel Patz, Lead Pastor Grace Church, Sunday Worship Ecclesiastes 3:1-15 November 7, 2010 – Grace Church
Ecclesiastes 3:1-15 ESV (1) For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: (2) a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; (3) a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; (4) a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; (5) a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; (6) a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; (7) a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; (8) a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace. (9) What gain has the worker from his toil? (10) I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. (11) He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. (12) I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; (13) also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil--this is God's gift to man. (14) I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him. (15) That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already has been; and God seeks what has been driven away.
INTRODUCTION Seek to illustrate our lack of control and self-determination:
SUMMARY OF TEXT 1-8 God appoints our days – this is about God’s determination not ours nor is it a call to discernment 9 If God appoints everything, what good does our work do? What difference does it make? 10 He has given us work to do – this is clear…we are not to be idle 11 It is beautiful (or fitting) in God’s timing and though we are wired to want to see the beginning and the end it is not in us to do so…this frustration is part of God’s plan 12-13 Instead He wants us to rejoice in a simple faith and obedience in this present parade of vanity 14-15 God is the only determining factor and He calls us tor trust in Him with childlike joy – this is the fear of the Lord
MAIN POINTS
God is God and we are not. Response: We need to learn to accept and love the sovereignty of God. Verses 1-8, 14-15 God appoints the seasons in Time. The poem is not a call to discernment but divine sovereignty He is the Author and He is writing He is the Singer and He is singing He is in the control and He does not let us enter…thanks be to God Psalms 115:3 ESV Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases. Psalms 135:6-7 ESV Whatever the LORD pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps. (7) He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth, who makes lightnings for the rain and brings forth the wind from his storehouses. James 4:13-15 ESV Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit"-- (14) yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. (15) Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that." Isaiah 46:8-10 ESV "Remember this and stand firm, recall it to mind, you transgressors, (9) remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, (10) declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,' Proverbs 19:21 ESV Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand. Acts 17:26 ESV And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, Matthew 10:29-30 ESV Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. (30) But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.
Q: What
are God's works of providence?
God’s sovereignty is the foundation of true joy! Response: We need to embrace joyfully our creaturely dependence on Him and trust His Wisdom and Goodness no matter what Verses 14, 11 – words of FAITH Illustration of a Loom – Backside of the Loom of Tapestry and the Front We live on the backside – under the sun – God is weaving the shuttle and has designed beauty Illustration of a 3D Picture – standing back to see Psalms 18:30 ESV This God--his way is perfect; the word of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him. Psalms 84:11-12 ESV For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. (12) O LORD of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you! Romans 8:28
Joy at the end of the tether is possible when we understand the strength of the tether. Although we don’t know the purpose we know that this is a wise and powerful purposer. Response: We need to live by faith in this Sovereign God as we live IN THE PRESENT with vigor, obedience and joy Verses 12-13 point us to live in the present in a contented joy and vigor and obedience Sand castle making every day with the tide coming in Psalms 131:1-3 ESV A Song of Ascents. Of David. O LORD, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. (2) But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me. (3) O Israel, hope in the LORD from this time forth and forevermore.
CONCLUSION/APPLICATION Relate to Jesus. Time appointment by God. Beautiful in its Time Obeyed and rejoiced and He calls us to follow Him. |
