Lesson 29
Ecclesiastes
The Things That Don't
Work!
Chapter Nine
9:3 This
is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that there is one fate for all
men. Furthermore, the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil and insanity
is in their hearts throughout their lives. Afterwards they go to the
dead.
-
any one who operates with under the sun
vpt, that is, leaving God out of the equation of life always leads to evil
-
hearts = brain/soul of men are
full of evil – whenever they’re under the rulership of the sin nature and
therefore the potential is there for all kinds of activity in direct defiance
and opposition to the will of God.
-
and
insanity is in their hearts throughout their lives.
insanity = tAlleAh - madness/insanity
not
madness/insanity that would result in one being put in the "funny
farm" – considered to be 'non compos mentus'
-
it refers to a blindness to the true issues of life.
-
insanity here then describes - openly defying
the +R stds of God therefore in reality is dealing
with moral evil in the life.
***
TXLN: (9:3b) The
wicked whose hearts (brain/soul) are full of evil and every conceivable
madness while they are alive, join their righteous counterparts and go to the
grave.
-
Any activity that we are involved in that is outside the boundaries, the limits
God has set forth in his Word for us, DWOG, this activity is irrational and
insanity on our part to pursue.
Must remember that there exists
two potential rulers of life for the believer: [to rule your thinking and
therefore your life]
1. The indwelling Holy Spirit along
with the mind of Christ, the Word.
- producing within, from the doctrine learned,
the new man/the inner man, out of which flows the basis for the character of
Christ being reflected in the life.
- know that construction or use of what is
already built is short circuited when God/H-S is not in rulership
2. The indwelling SIN NATURE which
is programmed with a knowledge of good (human) and evil (Rom
- Gen. 2:17; Heb. 5:14 From the growth in word we are to have
our senses trained to discern good and evil.
3.
Know that the sin nature will always be leading one away from God and
His grace provision while it is in rulership.
4.
One of its greatest areas of impact is the break down of the conscience,
under its rule one is able to rationalize anything and any activity as
acceptable in their own eyes. Isa 5:20
The Conscience
A significant player in the battle between good and
evil, that is, which dominates or rules our life is
the operation of what is called the "conscience."
It must be noted that one's
conscience is only as good as the standards that make it up.
A. Each
person develops a system of right and wrong.
Rom
B. In an unbeliever the "good" can either
be the result of compliance with LDE (recognizes the
consequences of breaking the law) or human good.
Adherence to either cannot provide salvation or
spirituality. Heb 6:1 (dead works); human good or relative righteousness is rejected Isa.
64:6
C.
The believer must reprogram their conscience with Divine norms and
standards. Heb 9:14; constant
process
- There must be a constant
development of the believer's perception and discernment, [distinguishing
between] which
results in practice, in the ability to choose what is right in any given
situation.
D. A new believer is said to have a "weak
conscience"
because of their lack of a solid doctrinal foundation. 1 Cor. 8:7,10,12
E. The advancing and mature believer
maintains a conscience with
Div/N&S. Acts 24:16
F.
When we sense guilt it indicates a recognition
of failure to apply the "good" standards.
G. Failure to apply any known
standard of DVPT not only is sin but it
leads to a searing of that N & S in the conscience. Continual searing results in
scar tissue. 1 Tim 4:1-2
H. Thus the importance for the
believer to maintain the Divine N & S and they're consistent application in
our life.
The ultimate source of this love is the love of God
poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit (
Only possible with H/S's
empowerment. [only have correct MA
with H/S's empowerment and illumination of the Word]
Philosophies that
are prevalent today
1. FATALISM
- its all fixed - therefore we might as well resign ourselves
to the events, circumstances of life since they follow an irrational blind
process.
- leads to the philosophy of despair – Nietzche
- system of thinking that sucks all the hope and motivation
from life.
- increasingly feels like a trapped robot and life becomes
depressing and an unchangeably dreadful existence!!
2. HUMANISM
- Humanity is
glorious therefore exalt yourself.
- Denies the
reality of the depravity of man.
- On the contrary -
humans possess great and grand potential & are able to do anything on their
OWN.
- Holds that We're good
enough and strong enough and capable enough
to pull it off regardless.
- This philosophy
was first displayed openly at the
- This philosophy
may be illustrated by William Earnest Henly in a poem
often used in high school lit classes titled "Invictus" which
communicates the humanistic philosophy very eloquently.
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable
soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance,
I have not winced nor cried aloud:
Under the bludgeoning of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the
scroll,
I am the master of my fate;
I am the captain of my soul.
Get the picture - man is the master of
his own fate, the captain of his own soul.
Man is indomitable, unconquerable -
invincible.
Man is in charge not God.
3. HEDONISM - EPICURANISM
- Life is a ball -
so enjoy yourself (defective definition of enjoyment)
- Old: Eat, drink
and be merry for tomorrow we die.
- New: If it feels
good do it.
- Your free,
unaccountable, available for anything as long as it feels good - forget the
consequences.
- Totally throws moral restraint - self
discipline to the wind.
4. MATERIALISM
- Possessions
satisfy so indulge yourself.
- "one who
dies with the most toys wins.”
- This is a
philosophy that motivates many people today to varying degrees.
- Many become a
slave to the details of life, bigger home, best furnishings, designer clothes,
slickest cars, yachts, campers you name it.
- DOL will not
satisfy - always something more, newer, better, more impressive.
- w/o BD which gives us the capacity to put things into
perspective we'll never be able to truly enjoy the DOL as we should.
REM: