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G o d l y C h u r c h. In A WORLDLY World. PLEASURES & FUN. Part 2. -PLEASURES & FUN-. Introduction. - There are many people today that love pleasures more than God (II Tim. 3:4). - Our world has become obsessed with fun in its many forms (sports, hobbies, travel…).
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G o d l y C h u r c h In A WORLDLY World PLEASURES & FUN Part 2
-PLEASURES & FUN- Introduction -There are many people today that love pleasures more than God(II Tim. 3:4) -Our world has become obsessed with fun in its many forms (sports, hobbies, travel…) -Too much of our time, money and energy is poured out into these activities -Our value system revolves around our fun in many ways
-PLEASURES & FUN- Introduction -Let is be said that “fun” is not wrong in itself -God created pleasure in the beginning with a garden created to meet man’s needs -The devil offers evil generic brands of the “fun” that God created to be good -Let us discuss how we might have good leisure, amusement, and play activities that will not hinder the Lord’s work
-PLEASURES & FUN- Introduction -We need to recognize that many of the pleasures enjoyed by Christians, take away valuable time, money and efforts that could be used to further the kingdom of the Lord -Where is the time, money and effort you are spending, being used? -Let us learn the dangers and the reality of what fun can do to our lives...
-PLEASURES & FUN- What Re-Creation Was Meant To Be -God intended for man to have pleasures -God made the garden of Eden pleasant (Gen. 2:8-9) -God knew that man in His image would need enjoyment and rejuvenation -But God had a balance of pleasure and work in the same dwelling place for man (Gen. 2:15)
-PLEASURES & FUN- What Re-Creation Was Meant To Be -Man must never lose sight of the balance -When pleasures are taken beyond God’s authority, man is in sin (Gen. 3:6) -Work became more difficult for man as he learned the difference between right and wrong (Gen. 3:17-19) -Renewal through pleasure is so that we can return to productive work (Eccl. 5:18)
-PLEASURES & FUN- What Re-Creation Was Meant To Be -We are made to enjoy good things -We need to maintain a happy heart while we continue in God’s will (Prov. 15:13, 15; 17:22) -Our good must come through our productive labor and responsible actions when the time is appropriate (Eccl. 3:1, 4, 12, 13) -Our merriment should carry us through our labors here (Eccl. 8:15; 11:9-12:1)
-PLEASURES & FUN- What We Have Made Out Of Fun -A secondary focus, has been made first -Our lives are hardly balanced between fun and serious business -The interest in fun has made life seem like a big game ($90 million NIKE deals in basketball etc.)…Just Do It! -Recreational “work” gets more attention than any other work, even the work of the Lord (I Tim. 4:8; Rom. 1:25)
-PLEASURES & FUN- What We Have Made Out Of Fun -Fun is now a fetish that is idolatrous -A fetish is: “an object of abnormally excessive attention or reverence” -When we should be reverencing God we are obsessed with other things -We need to seek those things that are above and have our interest in what is spiritual, not temporal (Col. 3:1-2)
-PLEASURES & FUN- What We Have Made Out Of Fun -Fun cannot have power over us -Many are given to and live in their own pleasures (Isaiah 47:8; Tit. 3:3) -Entertainment (Hollywood) and fun is leading us like lambs to the slaughter with its poor interpretation of priority -We have arrived at an hour where everything is judged by how “fun it is”
-PLEASURES & FUN- What We Have Made Out Of Fun -Fun effects how people view the church -Many want entertainment in services (good sermons, interesting Bible classes etc.) -When some look for a church to worship with, they are looking for the one that will make them feel good -If one wants to enjoy and find pleasure in worship and service to God, it is their responsibility…not the church
-PLEASURES & FUN- What We Have Made Out Of Fun - “Fun” has been made equal with “good” -Fun=Good is an equation that leads to no participation without fun -We tell people that in order to keep my attention or to make sure your message is not boring, tell a joke, story etc. -In many cases churches reach for the worlds level of fun and this should not happen (I Peter 4:3, 4; Eph. 5:3-4)
-PLEASURES & FUN- What We Have Made Out Of Fun - Pleasure must have its place in life -Pleasure can never take first place, or our lives are vain (Eccl. 2:1-11) -Keep in mind that every pleasure is a “passing pleasure” and will not be eternal (Heb.11:25) -To live in pleasure is to be dead spiritually (I Tim. 5:6)
-PLEASURES & FUN- The Consequence Of The Recreation View - We miss opportunities in church work -We work overtime, continue in debt, and have a hard time in church work (Prov. 21:17) -We would rather spend time with some friends at a sporting event than attend a Bible study or worship period - “Things” of a temporal nature are hindering us spiritually in the kingdom of God
-PLEASURES & FUN- The Consequence Of The Recreation View - We miss opportunities in our families -We are literally recreating ourselves to death as we pursue improper priorities -Some people seem to be more concerned with their childs athletic success rather than spiritual welfare (Eph. 6:4) -Families cannot forfeit higher priorities for earthly pleasures and desires
-PLEASURES & FUN- The Consequence Of The Recreation View - We miss time of personal growth -Personally we are going crazy trying to fulfill desires and do everything we want -We work at our play, play at our worship and worship our work…PRIORITIES? -When was the last time you really devoted a day to the study of the Bible? Visiting a brother or sister in Christ? On your knees in prayer? Do you enjoy these activities?
-PLEASURES & FUN- The Consequence Of The Recreation View - We lose time for teaching the lost -For every thing that we do in life, it takes time. How are you spending your time? -Each of us have 168 hours a week to devote to some endeavor. What will they be? -When the church has an evangelism day, do you place as much emphasis on it as you do your extracurricular activities?
-PLEASURES & FUN- APPLICATION -God wants us to enjoy pleasures, but some people entertain themselves with filth or put too much priority on these aspects -Remember that the “pleasures of life” are one of the reasons that the word of God is hindered in our lives (Luke 8:14) -What are you willing to change in your life to balance out your faith in God and enjoyment of physical pleasures?
-PLEASURES & FUN- What about obeying the gospel… -Hear John 12:48 -Believe John 8:24 -Repent Luke 13:3, 5 -Confess Matthew 10:32-33 -Baptized Mark 16:16 -Faithful Rev. 2:10