Where In lies the Value of a New Year?
This morning as we examine the Word of God I hope to share with you that, it is not what man produces for himself but rather what God gives that will determine the value of this year 2014.
Prepared for Rhodes January 4, 2014 Pastor Richard Overman
Prayer….Intro….We’ve received so much these past few days…..gifts….toys….games….teckie things…clothes….jewelry….food…food…and more food…..Things of value….at least things that cost and in some cases cost a lot. But, were they really things of value. Yes, I understand that we place value on things but how we rate that value can be good or it can be very bad. If earthly things have more value than heavenly possessions then our value system might need some adjustments. Spiritual adjustments. There might be a need to empty some barns. Look at the emphases of owning silver and gold today.
Ec 5:9 ¶ Moreover the profit of the earth is for all: the king himself is served by the field.
Ec 5:10 He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.
Ec 5:11 When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes? (YOU JUST LOOK AT IT)
Ec 5:12 The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.
Ec 5:13 There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt.
Ec 5:14 But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand.
Ec 5:15 As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.
Let’s look at all of the I’s…
Ec 2:1 ¶ I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity.
Ec 2:2 I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it?
Ec 2:3 I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life.
Ec 2:4 I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards:
Ec 2:5 I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits:
Ec 2:6 I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees:
Ec 2:7 I got me servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me:
Ec 2:8 I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts.
Ec 2:9 So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.
Ec 2:10 And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.
Ec 2:11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.
Ec 2:12 ¶ And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what can the man do that cometh after the king? even that which hath been already done.
Ec 2:13 Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.
Ec 2:14 The wise man's eyes are in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event happeneth to them all.
Ec 2:15 Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also is vanity.
Ec 2:16 For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise man? as the fool.
Let’s sum it up….
Ec 2:17 ¶ Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
Ec 2:18 Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me.
Ec 2:19 And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity.
Ec 2:20 Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun.
Ec 2:21 For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.
Ec 2:22 For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun?
Ec 2:23 For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.
Ec 2:24 There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.
Ec 2:25 For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I?
Ec 2:26 For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
2014 A good man in the sight of God receives
Wisdom given by God
Ro 11:33 ¶ O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
Ro 11:34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counseller?
Ro 11:35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?
Ro 11:36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
Ac 17:24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
Ac 17:25 Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
Ac 17:26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
Ac 17:27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:
Ac 17:28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
Ac 17:29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.
Ac 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
Ac 17:31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
1Co 1:24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
1Co 1:25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
1Co 1:26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
1Co 1:27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
1Co 1:28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
1Co 1:29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.
Knowledge It comes from God
Daniel 1:17 As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
Ro 11:33 ¶ O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
Ro 11:34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counseller?
Ro 11:35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?
Ro 11:36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
2 Peter 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
So Many Promises foreseeable for a great 2014
Joy from God!
1Pe 1:8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
1Pe 4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
1Jo 1:4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
2Jo 1:12 Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.
3Jo 1:4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
Jude 1:24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
JOY, n. Webster 1828
1. The passion or emotion excited by the acquisition or expectation of good; that excitement of pleasurable feelings which is caused by success, good fortune,the gratification of desire or some good possessed, or by a rational prospect of possessing what we love or desire; gladness; exultation; exhilaration of spirits.
Joy is a delight of the mind, from the consideration of the present or assured approaching possession of a good.
Bring heavenly balm to heal my country's wounds,
Joy to my soul and transport to my lay.
2. Gayety; mirth; festivity.
The roofs with joy resound.
3. Happiness; felicity.
Her heavenly form beheld, all wished her joy.
4. A glorious and triumphant state.
--Who for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross. Heb.12.
5. The cause of joy or happiness.
For ye are our glory and joy. 1 Thess 2.
6. A term of fondness; the cause of you.
JOY, v.i. To rejoice; to be glad; to exult.
I will joy in the God of my salvation. Hab.3.
JOY, v.t. To give joy to; to congratulate; to entertain kindly.
1. To gladden; to exhilarate.
My soul was joyed in vain.
2014 He’s still the King!
2014 His word is still Truth!
2014 He needs to be seen!
2014 He needs to be received!
Can You now say…..
2014 He is My King?
2014 His word is my Truth?
2014 I need to see Jesus?
2014 I need to receive Him?
Closing prayer…………………….2014 Crown Him King of Kings and Lord of Lords
