WELCOME
TO
ECWA BISHARA 1
GARAKU
Rev-in-charge
REV. Danladi Ndoh
Children Leader
Yakubu Kyune Emmanuel
NAMES OF SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS
1. MR. PHILIBUS SAMUEL
2. SIS. JAMES CHRISTIANA
3. BRO. JAMES SHIMILA
4. MRS. CECILIA AYUBA
5. LATE MRS. ESTHER AYUBA
6. MRS. KANDE KIGBO
7. MRS. AGNES SAMUEL
8. MR. DANJUMA AGBO
9. SIS. VERONICA MALUNZE
10. MAMA AWUSHIMA
11. CHUN ZACHARIAH
12. NAOMI NDOH
NOTE:
DAYS OF CHILDREN'S ACTIVITIES
MONDAY - BIBLE STUDY
WENESDAY - MID-WEEK PRAYER
THURSDAY - LEARNING OF SONGS
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the ecwa children ministry
The Evangelical Church Winning All" (ECWA) because of its wide spread to beyond its scope. It was a result of ministry history and the wide spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ in Africa by several missionaries, (Walter Gowans, Thomas Kent, and Rowland Bingham) who came from several places in the Canada and the United States of American in 1893 on what can be termed "evangelical suicide mission" which was coined by Oji Chukwudimma Chukwudike because it will be glaring to see that West Africa, at that time, was known to be heavily infested with malaria and there is almost a 100% possibility that a white man will not survive it as they even called the West African region "the white man's grave. These missionaries braved malaria and yellow fever to preach the gospel of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ under the auspices of the Sudan Interior Mission (SIM) and planted several churches as they preach along like Paul the Apostle and around mid-20th century these churches became independent to carry on the gospel. ECWA has the largest mission organization of any African church living up to its name Evangelical[6] which by name Evangelical Mission Society (ESM) has sent out about 1,600 missionaries.
Throughout Nigeria, but especially in the central regions, ECWA churches are growing rapidly. Some churches have experienced as much as 400% growth in the last several years. Churches in the Northern (traditionally more Islamic) parts of the country are also growing. There are currently more than six thousand ECWA congregations with more than ten million members. ECWA has over ninety District Church Councils (DCC's) hundreds of Local Church Councils (LCC's), thousands of Local Churches (LCs) and hundreds of Prayer Houses (PHs).
Bingham University Karu was stated in 2005 as a way of meeting the soaring need for not only quality, secular education, but education that recognizes and integrates the moral and spiritual values on which the Christian faith is founded which fueled its establishment. ECWA started three Theological Seminaries: ECWA Theological Seminary, Igbaja that started as a School of Prophets in 1918,ECWA Theological Seminary, Kagoro was established in 1931, and Jos ECWA Theological Seminary in 1982. There are also eight Bible collegesand fifteen theological training institutes. ECWA's Medical Department coordinates a wide network which includes four hospitals, a Community Health Program with over 110 health clinics, a Central Pharmacy and the School of Nursing and Midwifery. It is also involved in radio, publications for outreach and discipleship, rural development, urban ministries, and cross-cultural missions.[8] There are more than 1600 missionaries from ECWA churches who serve in Nigeria and other countries with the Evangelical Missionary Society (EMS), the missionary arm of ECWA.
ECWA ANNUAL THEMES SINCE FROM YEAR 1997 TILL DATE
ECWA has been having regular annual themes:
Year Theme
| 2024 2023 | For the vision awaits an appointed time Habakkuk 2:3 Occupy till I come. Luke 19:13 |
| 2022 | Look, He is Coming with the Clouds. Revelation 1:7 |
| 2021 | Christ in you, the hope of glory. Colossians 1:27 |
| 2020 | Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit. Zechariah 4:6 |
| 2019 | Behold, I am doing a new thing! Isaiah 43:19-21 |
| 2018 | Joy in suffering. 1 Peter 4:13 |
| 2017 | A generation that knew not the God. Judges 2:10 |
| 2016 | I looked for a man. Ezekiel 22:30 |
| 2015 | For I am persuaded. Romans 8:38 |
| 2014 | Preach the word... 1 Tim 4:2 |
| 2013 | I want to know Christ. Philippians 3:10 |
| 2012 | Fellow workers of the truth. 3 John 1:8 |
| 2011 | For we are God’s workmanship. Ephesians 2:10 |
| 2010 | We walk by Faith and not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:17 |
| 2009 | Vessels of honor. 2 Timothy 2:19 |
| 2008 | Living a Holy life... Hebrews 12:14 |
| 2007 | Have you heard? John 4:29 |
| 2006 | Walking in the light. 1 John 1:7 |
| 2005 | Return unto me. Malachi 3:17 |
| 2004 | Where are you? Genesis 3:9 |
| 2003 | Bear fruit that will last John 15:16. |
| 2002 | That I may know him. Philippians 3:10 |
| 2001 | Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Romans 8:35 |
| 2000 | Make the most of every opportunity. Ephesians 5:16 |
| 1999 | Go and Serve. 2 Timothy 2:2 |
| 1998 | Equipping the Saints. Ephesians 4:15 |
| 1997 | Resist the Devil. James 4:7 |
The Importance Of The Word Of God In The Life Of A Believer
We build our strength by taking note of the foundation aspects of the Word of GodThe Word of God is the water a believer needs to live. It’s life; once we neglect the Word, we begin to dry up.The moment you begin to add (no matter how little) to the Word of God, you begin to detract from God’s grace in your life. And we live by God’s grace, so doing that is dangerous to your life.
Take the simplicity of the Word of God and live by it. Do not be too pre-occupied with the “big” things and revelations to the detriment of doing the simple things in the Word.
Psalm 11:3
If you can’t prove or back something up with the Word of God then it’s not valid.
The Believer’s Attitude towards the Word of God:
1. 1. Read the Word
2. 2. Listen to the Word
3. 3. Meditate on the Word (Joshua 1:8)
You MUST have a plan to read through the entire bible in each year of your life – the Word of God. (Deut 17:18-20)
Our purpose for reading the Word of God, is to learn what is in it with a view to DOING what we have learnt.
Discipline yourself to read the Word of God. Your flesh will oppose your plan to read, but you have to overcome the work of the flesh through self-discipline.
You CANNOT live a depressed life if you read and live by the Word of God daily. In everything you do, be guided by the Word that you have read, this is a sure way to combat depression.
You have to learn that meditating on the Word of God is a deliberate act. You do not stumble into meditation on the Word, it is something you make out time to do and you discipline yourself to do.
We must consciously as believers be alert to hear what God is saying to us. God is constantly speaking to us, it is our responsibility to hear Him when He speaks.
When you (deliberately) meditate on the Word of God, you are enabled to do the Word (Psalm 1:1-3) and empowered to prosper through it.
Psalm 119:15-16, Ephesians 5:1, Habakkuk 2:1, Hebrews 4:12, Proverbs 4:23, Romans 1:28
Watch out for the Word of God
The Word of God is powerful and it heals (Psalm 107:19, Mark 5:29, 1Peter 2:24, Luke 6:17-19, Isaiah 53:5)
Declaration: The pain you are experiencing doesn’t belong to you. Receive your healing by the Word of the living God NOW!!!
Declaration: Healing is your portion (Matt 15:22-29), receive it now!
Prayer: Cancer is rebuked from your body now! That abnormal growth in your body is cursed and it dies now!
Prayer: Let the LORD’s healing power flow through this place and touch every heart that needs it now
Prayer: We rebuke the spirit of infirmity now! Let there be a realignment of your body’s anatomy now!
Build your life daily on the Word of God (Matt. 7:24-27).
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DEATH OF THE 12 DISCIPLES OF JESUS CHRIST
HOW DID THE APOSTLES DIE? WHAT DOES HISTORY SHOW AND/OR THE BIBLE REVEAL HOW THE 12 APOSTLES DIED?
HOW THE APOSTLES DIED
The Bible does not expressly give details about the ways in which the apostles died. We must rely on early church historians and secular historians as well but thankfully both seem to be in agreement and both are reliable. Because of this, we have no reason to disbelieve these accounts as the vast majority of them agree on the method of the apostles’ deaths.[1] We must understand that they were first called disciples which are what every believer is called. Jesus later commissioned them and sent them out to proclaim the gospel. The word apostle means “one sent” and so we can see that disciples and apostles are not the same thing. Every apostle was a disciple but not every disciple is an apostle. Today, anyone who has trusted in Christ is a disciple but the days of apostleship is over and ended with the conclusion of the New Testament. The church, “having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone” cannot have other apostles any more than it can have another cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20) because “no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Corintians 3:11). In order for there to be other apostles, we would have to tear down the building again and add to the foundation.
It is believed that most of the apostles died in the middle or late 1st century. We will now examine the historical evidence of how these men died. We begin with perhaps the most well-known of Jesus’ apostles, and that would be Peter.
How the Apostle Peter Died
The knowledge of Peter’s death is widespread among secular and church historians. He was crucified but he thought himself unworthy of the same type of death that Jesus suffered and so asked to be hung upside down which was done in Rome. Jesus saw this coming when He said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.” (John 21:18-19). Any time that Jesus said “truly, truly” or “verily, verily” He was putting great emphasis on a truth and Jesus must have known, with certainty, how Peter would die and that they “will stretch out your hands” and “carry you where you do not want to go” clearly implied crucifixion.
How the Apostle Andrew Died
Once again, most historians agree that Andrew was also crucified but he was crucified on an x-shaped cross in Greece.[1] The fact that he was in Greece may mean that he was participating in the Great Commission and taking the gospel to the whole world…at least the known world. This must have meant that he was tilted to one side or the other and was not crucified vertically or horizontally. It is believed that while he hung on that cross and was dying, he called to the crowds and taught them about Jesus Christ and how they might be saved, thus he was sharing the gospel up until the very time of his death on the x-shaped cross…being loyal to the very end.
HOW THE APOSTLE MATTHEW DIED
Matthew, like most of the apostles late in their lives, became a missionary and was arrested in Ethiopia. It was there that he was staked or impaled to the earth by spears and then beheaded. Not much beyond this is known since Matthew was in such a remote place in Africa and went where few historian or Christians ventured to go.
HOW THE APOSTLE BARTHOLOMEW OR NATHANIEL DIED
Bartholomew is also known as Nathaniel and there is scarce little known about how he died but it appears that since he was martyred in Armenia, he too must have been involved in the Great Commission and taking the good news into that part of the world. Apparently, he became a missionary to Asia Minor. Sadly, most agree that he was basically flayed to death by whip, where he was literally torn to shreds. How agonizing that must have been.
HOW THE APOSTLE THOMAS DIED
Again, not very much is known about the method of Thomas’ execution but that may be due to the fact that he was a missionary in India and was establishing a church there when he was stabbed with a spear and died from the wound. There are so few historical facts that are available beyond this account that we cannot add much to this and do so with absolute certainty.
HOW THE APOSTLE PHILIP DIED
According to most historians, Philip’s death was exceedingly cruel.[1] He was impaled by iron hooks in his ankles and hung upside down to die. Precious little else is known about the process but it is enough to know how he died.
HOW THE APOSTLE JAMES (SON OF ZEBEDEE) DIED
The apostle James is not the same James as Jesus brother so we need to establish that fact. James was far from any reliable historical writers or church historians but it is thought that he was beheaded by King Herod near Palestine and not far from where he was a local missionary to the Jews in Judea.
HOW THE APOSTLE JUDE DIED
The apostle Jude, who wrote the next to the last book in the New Testament by the same name, went all the way to Persia and it was there that he was crucified by the Magi. It is unlikely that the Magi mentioned in the New Testament who were searching for the child King, Jesus, and the ones who crucified Jude were one and the same. There were many Magi in Persia and so the chances that it would be the same ones who sought Jesus were the same ones who crucified Jude is highly unlikely. Apparently Jude was in Persia on a missionary trip.
HOW THE APOSTLE MATTHIAS DIED
Matthias was the apostle that was selected to replace Judas who hung himself. Acts 1:20-26 reveals how this was done, and some scholars say it may have fulfilled a prophecy in Psalm 69:25 and Psalm 109:8. Regardless of whether the prophecy was about Matthias, he was apparently stoned and then beheaded late in the 1st century.
HOW THE APOSTLE JOHN DIED
This is the disciple whom Jesus loved and was the only one that died a natural death…that is by old age and not martyred. However he was imprisoned on the island of Patmos where he wrote the Book of Revelation. He was later freed and went to Turkey, perhaps on a mission to establish churches there. This is the apostle that is mentioned in John 21:20-23, “Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, ‘Lord, who is the one who betrays You?’ Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, ‘But Lord, what about this man?’ Jesus said to him, ‘If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.’ Then this saying went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?”
HOW THE APOSTLE JAMES THE LESS DIED
This is the most inconspicuous of all the apostles and he is called James the Less to distinguish him from the other apostle named James and the James who was Jesus half-brother. James the Less was martyred in a fashion similar to James, the half-brother of Jesus, who was thrown from the pinnacle of the temple and then beaten to death.
HOW THE APOSTLE SIMON DIED
The apostle Simon is not Simon Peter (Andrew’s brother) but Simon the Zealot. Once again, very little is known about him inside or outside of the Bible. All that is known about his death is that he was also was crucified.
JUDAS THE BETRAYER
It is not fair to call Judas Iscariot an apostle since he was never truly converted or commissioned by Jesus. It may not even be accurate to call him a disciple because he truly did not follow Christ Who said that “whoever would be my disciple must follow after me” (Matthew 16:24). Even so, I thought he should be mentioned. The Bible says that he betrayed Jesus and then being consumed with worldly guilt went out to hang himself (Matthew 27:3-8).
HOW JAMES, THE BROTHER OF JESUS DIED
I realize that the brother of Jesus, James, was not an apostle but he was one of the early church leaders and the account of his death is horrific. He died early in the church history while the New Testament was still being compiled. He was believed to have been thrown some 100 feet off a wall. This was done to him after he repeatedly refused to deny his faith in Jesus. After the fall, he was somehow still alive and when they discovered this, his enemies circled him and beat him to death with clubs.
THE APOSTLE PAUL
I included Paul among the apostles since he was perhaps the greatest apostle and evangelist the world has ever known and most certainly deserves to be included among the apostles. Second Timothy was the last letter ever written by Paul and in it he knew that the time of his death drew near as he wrote to Timothy “For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” You can hear the passion and love of Paul in his last words to Timothy.
He wrote from prison, knowing that his execution was near. Probably Christ Himself must have told him and he was preparing Timothy to take over for him. Listen to the heartbreaking last words of Paul as he awaited his execution in 2 Timothy 4:16-18: “At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” How heartbreaking. Paul was abandoned by everyone as his execution neared…all that is except His cherished Lord. Paul was not ashamed how he lived his life as his death neared. Most historians, both secular and church, say that he was beheaded. His last thoughts must have been of His beloved Lord knowing that since He rescued him from eternal death by saving him, He would rescue him after his physical death and would be with the Lord forever.
Conclusion
How will you die…in your sins? I pray not. If you step out of this life without Christ, then you have sealed your own fate and eternally separated yourself from God. Repent today, confess your sins, see your need for a Savior and put your trust in Jesus Christ and you too will be part of that which is being built today by God and which has as its foundation, the saints of God, the apostles and the Chief Cornerstone, Jesus Christ. There is coming a day when no man or woman can be joined together with Christ so why not decide this very hour for when He comes it will be too late.
The Ten Commandments
The Ten Commandments
And God spoke all these words:
I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
- You shall have no other gods before me.
- You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
- You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
- Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns.For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
- Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
- You shall not murder.
- You shall not commit adultery.
- You shall not steal.
- You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
- You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
what the bible says about childrens
What the Bible Says About Children
From beginning to end, God speaks about the importance of children through his Word. Because children are important to God, children are important to us.
To help you connect with God's heart for children, we have compiled this list of Bible verses that speak to children as a blessing in our lives and to how God asks us to relate to and regard children.
Children are an important and valuable part of God's Kingdom. Knowing what the Bible says about children will help you connect with God's heart and the children in your lives, which is always a good thing.
THE GREATEST IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.”
— Matthew 18:1-5
THE LITTLE CHILDREN AND JESUS
People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.
— Mark 10:13-16
Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them.
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.
— Matthew 19:13-14
People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
— Luke 18:15-17
What does the Bible say about raising children
Question: "What does the Bible say about raising children?"Answer: God created the family. His design was for a man and a woman to marry for life and raise children to know and honor Him (Mark 10:9; Malachi 2:15). Adoption is also God’s idea, and He models this in His adoption of us as His children (Romans 8:15, 23; Ephesians 1:5). Regardless of the means by which they enter a family, children are a gift from God and He cares about how they are raised (Psalm 127:3; Psalm 34:11; Proverbs 23:13–14). When God gives us gifts, He also gives clear instructions about their use.
When God led the Israelites out of bondage, He commanded them to teach their children all He had done for them (Deuteronomy 6:6–7; 11:19). He desired that the generations to come would continue to uphold all His commands. When one generation fails to instill God’s laws in the next, a society quickly declines. Parents have not only a responsibility to their children, but an assignment from God to impart His values and truth into their lives.
Several places in Scripture give specific instructions to parents about how to raise their children. Ephesians 6:4 says, “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” There are several ways parents might provoke their children to anger. Some parents set impossible standards so that a child despairs of ever achieving them. Some parents tease, ridicule, or humiliate their children as a means of punishment, which does nothing but provoke them to anger. Inconsistency can also provoke to anger as a child is never sure about the consequences of his actions. Hypocrisy provokes children to anger when parents require behavior from children that the parents are not choosing for themselves.
To “bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” means that parents should train their children the way God trains us. As a Father, God is “slow to anger” (Numbers 14:18; Psalm 145:8), patient (Psalm 86:15), and forgiving (Daniel 9:9). His discipline is designed to bring us to repentance (Hebrews 12:6–11). His instruction is found in His Word (John 17:17; Psalm 119:97), and He desires that parents fill their homes with His truth (Deuteronomy 6:6-7).
He also disciplines His children (Proverbs 3:11; Hebrews 12:5) and expects earthly parents to do the same (Proverbs 23:13). Psalm 94:12 says, “Blessed is the one you discipline, LORD, the one you teach from your law.” The word discipline comes from the root word disciple. To discipline someone means to make a disciple of him. God’s discipline is designed to “conform us to the image of Christ” (Romans 8:29). Parents can make disciples of their children by instilling values and life lessons they have learned. As parents practice godly living and make Spirit-controlled decisions (Galatians 5:16, 25), they can encourage their children to follow their example. Proper, consistent discipline brings a “harvest of righteousness” (Hebrews 12:11). Failure to discipline results in dishonor for both parent and child (Proverbs 10:1). Proverbs 15:32 says that the one who ignores discipline “despises himself.” The Lord brought judgment upon Eli the priest because he allowed his sons to dishonor the Lord and “failed to restrain them” (1 Samuel 3:13).
Children are a “heritage from the Lord” (Psalm 127:3). He places them in families and gives parents guidance in how they are to be raised. The goal of good parenting is to produce wise children who know and honor God with their lives. Proverbs 23:24 shows the end result of raising children according to God’s plan: “The father of godly children has cause for joy. What a pleasure to have children who are wise” (NLT).
LIFE WITHOUT GOD IS VANITY
- King Solomon uses the word “vanity” 38 times in the book of Ecclesiastes. The word means “emptiness or futility.”
- From a worldly or secular viewpoint, life does appear empty. George Bernard Shaw has his worldly Mr. Higgins say, “What is life but a series of inspired follies?”
- Shakespeare has Macbeth say, “Life's but a walking shadow; a poor player, that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more: it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.”
- To a man who has lived his life without God, life might seem like “a series of inspired follies” or “a tale told by an idiot.”
- But consider the words of the apostle Paul, a man who spent his life serving God: “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (I Cor. 15:58).
- “Not in vain” (I Cor. 15:58). But the preacher said, “Vanity of vanities…vanity of vanities; all is vanity. What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?” (Eccl. 1:2, 3).
- Concerning this phrase, “under the sun” (1:3, 9, 14, etc.), G. Campbell Morgan wrote, “This man had been living through all these experiences under the sun, concerned with nothing above the sun… until there came a moment in which he had seen the whole of life. And there was something over the sun. It is only as man takes account of that which is over the sun as well as that which is under the sun that things under the sun are seen in their true light” (Unfolding Message of the Bible).
- The message of Ecclesiastes is the message of the NT – “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever” (I John 2:16, 17).
- “The world passeth away.” Life without God is vanity. Our Lord said, “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:36; cf. Eccl. 1:3).
- Another key word in the book of Ecclesiastes is “labour” (1:3, 8; 2:10, 11, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, etc.).
- The word “labour” appears 23 times and the word “laboured” 5 times in the book of Ecclesiastes.
- Here, the word “labour” means, “to toil to the point of exhaustion and yet experience little or no fulfillment in your work. It carries with it the ideas of grief, misery, frustration, and weariness” (Warren Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary).
- Moses put it this way in Psalm 90:10, “The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.”
- Once again we must remember the great promise of I Corinthians 15:58, “forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”
- For Paul, the key words are “in the Lord.” In Ecclesiastes, they are “under the sun.” That is the difference.
- Without God, life does seem meaningless (Eccl. 1:3-9). The book of Ecclesiastes teaches us that there is more to life than merely getting up and going to work, eating, sleeping, and getting up and going to work, etc. In other words, without God life is wearisome, monotonous, repetitious, and “vexation of spirit” (1:14).
- Life without God can be tedious and monotonous. This monotony is described vividly in Eccl. 1:4-8.
- Last week I commented on verse 4 and someone asked me if the new heaven and new earth referred to in Revelation 21:1 and Isaiah 65:17 could mean a “renovated” heaven and earth.
- Personally, I do not think there will be a “renovated” heaven and earth, but rather a literal “new heaven and a new earth” (Rev. 21:1; cf. II Peter 3:7, 10).
- Referring to Revelation 21:5, William Newell wrote, “The words, ‘Behold, I make all things new’ must be taken literally. It is not that things are ‘changed’ or ‘purified.’
- Newell also wrote, “The definite and repeated statements that the old earth and heaven ‘flee away,’ ‘pass away with a great noise,’ and are ‘burned up,’ together with the statement that ‘there was found no place for them,’ compel the conclusion that those who argue that these words indicate only a ‘cleansing by fire’ and not actual eternal dissolution and disappearance, shrink from the searching realities of this subject. The word “create” is a solemn word to modify or trifle with!” (Revelation).
- John Walvoord wrote, “The new heaven and new earth presented here are evidently not simply the old heaven and earth renovated, but an act of new creation.”
- And referring to Revelation 20:11 – “from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them” – Dr. Walvoord wrote, “Frequent references in the Bible seem to anticipate this future time when the present world will be destroyed (Matt. 24:35; Mark 13:31; Luke 16:17; 21:33; II Peter 3:10)…Further, it would be most natural that the present earth and heaven, the scene of the struggle with Satan and sin, should be displaced by an entirely new order suited for eternity” (The Revelation of Jesus Christ).
- King Solomon was a very wise man. In fact, the Bible says Solomon was the wisest man on earth.
- First Kings 3:28 says, “And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment.”
- First Kings 4:29 says, “And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much.”
- First Kings 4:31 says King Solomon “was wiser than all men… and his fame was in all nations round about.”
- First Kings 4:34 says, “And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom.”
- In Ecclesiastes 1:13, Solomon wrote, “And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven.”
- Solomon says in Eccl. 1:16, “I…have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.”
- King Solomon was the wisest man on earth, and he book of Ecclesiastes is one of the OT “Wisdom Books.” There are 54 references to “wisdom” and “wise” and 32 references to “fools” and “folly.”
- When studying the Book of Ecclesiastes, it is good to remember that even the wisest man on the earth (“under the sun”) was frustrated and vexed in his search for truth (1:13, 14, 18).
CONCLUSION:
- We have seen these past two weeks man’s problem – he is looking at life “under the sun.”
- If all we see is “under the sun” then life can seem vain, and tedious, and frustrating. This is why so many people are caught up in materialism, and drugs, and alcohol, and promiscuity.
- This is why people seek help from weird religious cults like the JW’s, Mormons, Scientology, the Moonies, etc.
- This is why so many even commit suicide. This is why so many people go to psychiatrists.
- I heard about a man who was depressed and suicidal, and he went to see a psychiatrist. The psychiatrist told him, “Man, you need a good laugh! Lighten up! The circus is in town. Why don’t you go down there? I hear they have a clown that is very funny. I hear he is hilarious!”
- The man said to the psychiatrist, “I’m that clown!”
- Going to the circus will not work.
- Going to the psychiatrist will not work.
- And looking at life “under the sun” will not work.
- We need the right perspective. The apostle Paul wrote, “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth” (Col. 3:2).
how to overcome sin
The Bible says in no uncertain terms that we as Christians are to live an overcoming life in our battle Almost all talk of battles and wars when concerning a Christian life refers to the inner battle that arises when a sinful thought tempts you. God’s Spirit and the flesh are at odds. When you have decided to only do... against sin. And we don’t overcome sin “by the skin of our teeth:” we are to be more than conquerors (Romans 8:37), and God “always leads us in triumph!” (2 Corinthians 2:14.)
Yet, though I want to live a life pleasing to God, it can be quite daunting to meet the reactions that come from my nature to events and situations in daily life. I think, say and do things that are not according to God’s will. Paul describes it very well in Romans 7:18-19: “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.” It can seem that this sin inherent in my flesh is just too strong to resist. So, how can I overcome sin?
1. “As I overcame”
Jesus says something incredible in Revelation 3:21: “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” These words are so great, they can almost be hard to grasp! All Christians believe that through Jesus’ sacrifice we can get forgiveness and be reconciled to God. But here Jesus is saying that I can also overcome sin as Jesusovercame! This means there must be way more to it than forgiveness of sins.
So to find out how I can overcome sin, I need to look at Jesus, my forerunner and great example, and see how He did it.
2. “Not my will, but Yours, be done”
When Jesus came into the world, He declared, “God, You have given Me a body, and I have come to do Your will.” (Hebrews 10:5-7.) Similarly, when He was facing enormous trials at the end of His life, He said, “… not My will, but Yours, be done.”Luke 22:42.
As a man, Jesus also had a self-will, and was tempted, but His firm resolve from the very start was, “Not My will, but Yours, be done!” For me to overcome as He overcame, I need to make that same decision and faithfully stick to it, no matter what happens or how I feel.
3. Humble yourself
“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, … being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” Philippians 2:5-8. Jesus was in heaven with God but He voluntarily became a man for our sakes. You would have thought that this was the ultimate act of humility. But it’s written that it was as a man that He humbled Himself, and was obedient. In order to overcome, Jesus had to humble Himself. He had to take up a battle against the sin, and carry out His pledge: “Not My will, but Yours, be done!”
Humility is the mind of Jesus, and must be my attitude as His disciple.
4. Pray with vehement cries and tears
“… who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.” Hebrews 5:7-8. Jesus really was a man like us. God didn’t give Him any special privileges or make the way easier for Him, because then the whole work of salvation would have been corrupted and worthless. Jesus fought a desperate battle against the sin in His flesh, and needed help. His “vehement cries and tears” were heard because they were genuine, the result of only wanting to serve God.
God taught Him obedience, and gave Him the strength and resolve He needed to deny Himself, every single time. How desperate am I to gain the victory? How vehement are my cries to God? How willing am I to obey? Do I want to be saved from death? To overcome like He overcame, I need to follow Jesus in everything, also in how I pray to God for help. In my situation, the lusts in my flesh and the pressures from outside can loom up like an enormous mountain. The battle can seem overwhelming. But I am not alone.
5. Grace to help in time of need
Jesus knows what it is like to be human. “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:15. Before He left the earth, Jesus promised His disciples that He would send them the Holy Spirit, the Helper, who would guide them to the truth. (John 14:16-17;26; John 15:26.)
“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16. The time of need is when I am tempted, when I see and feel the sin in my flesh, when I am struggling to keep myself pure and not to sin. If I pray for help as Jesus did, with humility and loud cries and tears, desperate to gain the victory and be saved from death, then I will get help.
The Holy Spirit will come and show me the way to go. And the way is always: “Suffer in the flesh, like Jesus did!” If I am humble and willing to obey, He will give me the strength and resolve I need to endure in my battle. He will give me light and understanding to see how heinous sin is, and how great my heavenly calling is. He will give Me God’s Word as a guide, help and a weapon. He will empower me to overcome sin!
6. Using the Word as a weapon
God’s Word is a sword. (Ephesians 6:17; Hebrews 4:12.) It is the absolute truth, and a powerful weapon against Satan’s and sin’s deceit. When Jesus was tempted by the devil, His reply always started with “It is written…!” (Matthew 4:1-11.) But Jesus didn’t only quote the Word; He had authority when He used God’s Word, because He also lived by it. In John 1:14 we read the astonishing words that “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” Jesus could be described as the Word personified. His entire life was a fulfillment of God’s Word, and thereby God’s will.
When I read the Bible, I fill myself with God’s wisdom. It is the weapon He has given me; words to use against Satan’s deceit like Jesus did, words that show me what to do, words of comfort. I must do exactly what I read. Then I am wielding the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. I totally expose Satan’s lies and deceit and overcome all the sinful tendencies in my flesh. Living according to these words makes me invincible.
7. Suffer in the flesh, cease from sin
“Therefore, since Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.” 1 Peter 4:1-2. This suffering was not the physical suffering on the cross of Calvary. It was the suffering of the cross He used daily, when He said “No” to His own will, the sin in His flesh, even when it bombarded Him incessantly with its demands and deceitful attraction. The sin in His nature had received its death sentence when He said, “Your will be done, God,” and this sentence was carried out when the lusts were revealed in time of temptation.
As a disciple who follows Jesus, I must hate my own life, deny myself and take up my cross. (Luke 9:23; Luke 14:26.) It costs something. It costs my will. It costs my life. I must pray and cry and my lusts have to feel the pain of being denied. On the “daily cross” they suffer and die. Then I will cease from sin.
This is the way the Master went. If I follow Him, I will end up where He is!
“To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” Revelation 3:21.
What is prayer?
There are many promises in God’s Word to encourage us to pray, such as: “He shall call upon me and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honor him” (Psalm 91:15); “And it shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear” (Isaiah 65:24); “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7). The Scriptures tell us that we are to pray for one another and also assure us that God hears and answers prayer.
When you receive Christ into your heart, you become a child of God and have the privilege of talking to Him in prayer at any time about anything. The Christian life is a personal relationship to God through Jesus Christ. And best of all, it is a relationship that will last for all eternity.
WAYS YOUR KIDS CAN CONNECT WITH GOD
One day in the spring, as I drove my car, I told my 4-year-old son, “The grass was dead all winter, but now it’s coming back to life. Do you know someone who was dead but came back to life?” His answer, of course, was Jesus! We then had an interesting conversation about the resurrection and power of God — all because of green grass.
I wish this type of conversation would happen more often with my children. I tried starting a similar conversation with an older son, but had less success. One reason is that my kids have different spiritual temperaments, just as they have different bodies, personalities, interests and emotional dispositions. Their spiritual temperaments often affect how they learn about God.
Pastor and author Gary Thomas refers to these temperaments as “sacred pathways.” Thomas notes that Christians all have different and acceptable ways of demonstrating their love for God. “Our temperaments will cause us to be more comfortable in some of these expressions than others — and that is perfectly acceptable to God,” Thomas writes in his book Sacred Pathways. “In fact, by worshiping God according to the way He made us, we are affirming His work as Creator.”
Some people find it easier to connect with God through their surroundings or routines, while others may prefer service or using their intellect. A child’s dominant spiritual pathway provides more potential points of connection with God. Although your child may have a combination of these seven temperaments, you’ll find that one or two of them may stand out a bit more than the others.
The Traditionalist
Most children begin life with a need for routine. Traditionalists not only thrive in this environment, but as they grow, they continue needing structure in their faith. Consistent worship times, structured prayers and reliable and meaningful celebrations benefit these young children.
As traditionalists grow older, they may lean more toward another temperament, while still relying on the basic faith structure they’ve grown up with. Others will become more defined in their traditionalist temperament. They may create their own daily rituals or homework routines; these children thrive on consistency.
To incorporate faith-routines into their lives, create special celebrations for Advent, Lent and Pentecost — celebrations that may feel restrictive to non-traditionalists, but will bring life to someone of this temperament. These children also thrive when they pray at certain times of day or when their prayer times are based on external cues, such as a school bell.
Bible characters to check out:
Abraham (built a lot of altars)
Esther (built up her courage to break a rule to save the Jews)
Bible passages to read together: Colossians 3:16, 1 Corinthians 11:17-34
The Naturalist
Some children may be wired to connect with God through nature. Just like some adults feel closest to God when on the top of a mountain or while fishing, many children feel closest to God while enjoying His creation. They may understand spiritual metaphors better when they are related to the natural world. God uses nature — weeds, gardens, pets, clouds and people — to draw these children closer to Him.
In the case of the naturalist child, a parent will need to help him approach creation mindfully and with an ear bent toward the Creator. If your children are young, you can and should take the lead in pointing out how God’s creation draws us toward Him, similar to the conversation I had with my son. Eventually it will be a natural way for your child to connect with God. Otherwise, they may have a tendency to give nature credit for itself. Talking about nature as a creation of God is key to drawing the naturalist’s eyes to the Creator.
Bible character to check out:
Elijah (a prophet who moved around a lot)
Deborah (judged Israel under a date palm tree rather than from a tent)
Bible passage to read together: Psalm 19:1-6
The Sensate
Children, by nature, are incredibly responsive to sensory input. Some, however, are truly moved by it. In a similar way to the naturalist being moved to worship by natural surroundings, the sensate is moved to worship through the tickling of the senses: art, music, delicious food, intoxicating smells, new textures and dance. This may seem foreign in our culture of bare-walled churches, but heaven itself is often described as a beautiful, exuberant multitude of voices praising in every language (Revelation 15:4; 19:6-7).
To help sensory children connect in a meaningful way with God, proactively point out the aesthetic and tactile beauty of things that God made to arrive at teachable moments. You can ask her, “How does that smell/taste/music make you feel?” or “What does that reflect about faith/God?” If you don’t help them understand that God gave the world its aesthetic beauty through the arts, the culture may convince sensory children that beauty for the sake of beauty is important. Therefore, your short, teachable moments are key for the sensate.
Bible characters to check out:
David (and his many psalms)
Mary (sister to Lazarus)
Bible passage to read together: Ezekiel 1-3:15
The Caregiver
I have a son who follows me around when we’re at home. He loves swishing toilets, making beds and baking, and is constantly looking for little ways to help. In fact, when he is told he can’t help with a certain task, he becomes upset. I have a suspicion that he will find it easier to develop a relationship with God while serving others. Not every child will enjoy serving food to the homeless. To a child like mine, it may feel like pure joy.
The temptation of a caregiver is the same struggle felt by Martha: She was so busy serving Jesus that she forgot to use that service as a way to get to know her Savior. It is fairly simple to expose a child to Christian service. It is another thing altogether to show him how to let his service draw him closer to Christ. When you talk about the child’s acts of service, have him consider which were done with a pure motive to bless others in Jesus’ name and which were done out of pride or feelings of righteousness. Finding the right motivation is key for this child.
Bible characters to check out:
Lydia (a seller of purple cloth who showed hospitality to Paul)
Stephen (supervised the care of widows and orphans in the early church)
Bible passage to read together: Matthew 25:31-46
The Activist
Have you ever met a child who became incredibly upset over injustice? We’ve probably all seen news stories of children who latch onto a particular cause, dedicating their young lives to it. We may be tempted to shield our children from the evil in the world, to keep them in their safe bubble of family and school, but if we choose to ignore the world beyond us, an activist child will become completely overwhelmed by it when she discovers what is happening.
As a parent, your job is to allow your child to witness the ills of the world, in manageable and age-appropriate chunks, to help her develop God’s passion for the downtrodden. Most activists won’t need to be told to stand up for a cause. You will more likely need to hold her back to help her find balance, once she’s recognized God’s heartbeat. However, the temptation of any activist is to become proud in her stand against evil, forgetting her relationship with God. The role of the parent will be to help her seek God’s will, wisdom and humility in her work, using her activism to draw closer to God’s love and truth.
Bible characters to check out:
John the Baptist (prepared the way for Jesus)
Shiphrah (one of the midwives who saved Israelite babies from Egyptians)
Bible passage to read together: Isaiah 58
The Intellectual
When I was a teenager, one of the first things I bought from the Christian bookstore was a concordance. My friend thought I was strange, but I had a deep need to understand God’s Word better. Some children share my deep curiosity and find it easy to dive deep into topics that interest them. The topics may not appear to be “intellectual” as an adult sees them, though. In fact, it may look more like an obsession with dinosaurs or bacteria, but children who love to learn often connect with God in the same way.
As a parent, your job is to feed your child’s intellectual fire with challenging material. It may be books that make him think deeper about faith, Bible studies that you do together or even buying him a concordance for his birthday. Many intellectuals also make excellent teachers because they love to share what they have learned. The temptation here is to become arrogant in knowledge and prideful in the treatment of others, exchanging the Tree of Life for the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil as Adam and Eve did. Parents can help children balance their growing body of knowledge by encouraging them to live out what they’ve learned in their relationship with God and toward others. If the intellectual pathway rings true for your child, consider partnering with him to a teach a Sunday school class for younger children or allow him to teach younger siblings.
Bible characters to check out:
Ethiopian eunuch (accepted Jesus after Philip ran alongside his chariot)
Priscilla (who opened her home to Paul and learned about Jesus from him)
Bible passage to read together: Acts 8:27-38
The Enthusiast
As a child in the tabernacle, Samuel clearly heard the voice of God. He spent his life following direct orders from God and prophesying to the Israelites. His life was filled with the mystery of nighttime voices, direct revelation from God and even calling down thunderstorms in the name of God. To many, this sounds terrifying and impossible, but to our children with the enthusiast temperament, this type of relationship with God sounds incredible.
You may have a child who is enthusiastic about discerning God’s voice and seeking His will. Parents with an enthusiast child will need to learn how to welcome their child’s connection with God and help develop her discernment skills through biblical knowledge and understanding. Reinforce the truth that God will never contradict His Word. If your child believes she’s sensing the prompting of the Holy Spirit, help her to search through the Bible to find a scriptural foundation that affirms God’s perspective.
Bible characters to check out:
Samuel (the prophet)
Anna (a prophetess)
Bible passage: Ephesians 5:15-20
All members of one body
Most Christian parents assume that our way of connecting with God is the way our children will or should connect with Him. But there is no one size fits all approach to faith. “God wants to know the real you, not a caricature of what somebody else wants you to be,” Gary Thomas notes. “He created you with a certain personality and a certain spiritual temperament. God wants your worship, according to the way He made you.”
An intellectual parent will tend toward deep Bible study with her children, while a caregiver will focus on finding family service projects and a naturalist will spend a lot of time out in nature with his children. If I am an extremely extroverted enthusiast, it might look odd to me if my introverted child would rather sit in quietness and contemplate God’s love or ponder a section of Scripture. I may feel that my child lacks faith, but the truth may be that my child connects with God in a different way than I do.
God, who delights in our differences, desires to draw each of us to Him. I can, and should, look for teachable moments, but these may look different for each child. As parents we should also consider helping our children find mentors who connect with God in the same way that they do, particularly if their spiritual temperament is the complete opposite of ours.
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