Sermon Ecclesiastes Chapter 5 The House of God

1 Guard your steps as you go to the house of God and draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools; for they do not know they are doing evil. 2 Do not be hasty in word or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God. For God is in heaven and you are on the earth; therefore, let your words be few.

3 For the dream comes through much effort and the voice of a fool through many words. 4 When you make a vow to God, do not be late in paying it; for He takes no delight in fools. Pay what you vow! 5 It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.

6 Do not let your speech cause you to sin and do not say in the presence of the messenger of God that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry on account of your voice and destroy the work of your hands? 7 For in many dreams and in many words there is emptiness. Rather, fear God.

There are two ways of approaching God in this text- As a wise Listener OR as a Fool

We need to be cautious of our hearts and our attitudes in the House of God because we’re dealing with Saints who are sinners.

Don’t be quick to tell God what you think He wants to hear if you don’t mean it.

But who honors those who fear the Lord; He swears to his own hurt and does not change Psalm 15:4

Church going is a God hallowing activity Church going is a God hallowing activity. When God is present, people become quiet. When God is present, people become quieter—not out of fear of being abused but out of a recognition that true good, power, beauty, and wisdom have entered the room. Zach Eswine.

Approaching God requires thoughtful reverent preparation.

Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. Lisa, The Simpsons

"Hear, O Israel. The Lord is our God, the Lord is one "Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! 5You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.”

LET GOD HAVE THE LAST WORD

Find what stirs your affections for Christ and saturate your life with them, and run from anything that robs you of affection for Christ.

Edwards Resolution 25 Resolved, to examine carefully, and constantly, what that one thing in me is, which causes me in the least to doubt of the love of God; and to direct all my forces against it.

The single most obvious trait of those who profess Christ but do not grow into Christ-likeness is their refusal to take the reasonable and time-tested measures for spiritual growth. Dallas Willard

The most important time to be at church is when you don’t feel like it.

Covenants are made for the hard times, not the good times Covenants are made for the hard times, not the good times. In the good times, we don’t need covenants, because we can get by and stick together on feelings alone. But covenant communities hold us up when we’re faltering and pick us up when we’ve fallen.

“WORSHIP PORN”- The substitute things we do in private to get our own spiritual fulfillment that doesn’t require us to cultivate relationships in the Body of Christ.

Are you moving toward a place of listening to God’s Word as your guiding truth, or are you playing the game of obedience when it is convenient?

We don’t listen and submit to EARN God’s favor We don’t listen and submit to EARN God’s favor. We do it because we recognize that His Word is how He shows us His favor.

We can enter the House of God and be a part of the Living Stones of the people of God because of the sacrifice of Jesus.

The ABC’s of coming to faith – A - Admit that you can’t control life and you need help – That means there is GOOD NEWS FOR YOU   B- Believe that Jesus is the only Wisdom and Savior who can heal your heart. C- confess to God that you want to trust Jesus as your savior and Lord.  

FIRST COMMANDMENT AND ROOTS, BRANCHES, FRUIT