Victory over boredom
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Victory over death
Victory over death
We remember, we celebrate every week Christ’s victory over death. Is there a greater victory than that?
Jesus Christ gave us victory by His victory over death (1Cor15:54-57)
54 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; 57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Death swallowed up picture here
Not only did Christ live and die victorious He gives us victory through Him too. Death for us is swallowed up in victory because of Christ’s sacrifice. There is no sting in death just a transfer from this perishable life to an imperishable life. From corruptible to incorruptible.
Many celebrate “Easter” today and it is not a biblical word and we remember His resurrection for without it we would be stuck in our sin.
Jesus overcame death, and we died, were buried and rose again, just like Christ so we can walk in the newness of life (Rom6:4). So may we remember His sacrifice for our victory every week, not once a year.
Having said that may we move onto another victory today? - This one we will address boredom.
Paul tells us to remember the victory (1Cor11:23-26)
26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.
So, we have just taken the Supper remembering His death, the place of His victory was to be revealed in three days. May we remember that always.
Our series Focal passage (1Jn5:4-5):
4 For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. 5 And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.
Victory picture inserted here
We started at looking at victory over sin
We then looked at victory over anxiety
Afflicts over 23-million people in this country
Disrupts work, family, social lives and can make someone housebound and not want to come out at all.
Solutions we looked at
Reminding: Of God’s providential love and care.
Teaching us about where to put our priorities, to make first things first.
Also, finally revealing our own limitations.
OK, one more, prayer.
Some comparisons to consider
Anxiety : State of uneasiness and apprehension
Boredom: A condition of mental weariness, listlessness and discontent.
Anxiety: Cause of thinking too much, that we have to much to do, or as some say “too much on my plate.”
Boredom is result of thinking there is nothing to do.
Anxiety: is more commonly seen in adults.
Boredom, well, any parent would know, it is commonly seen in children. “There’s nothing to do.”
Boredom, like anxiety can have some strong impacts. Impacting our relationship with God and our usefulness to God, Jesus Christ. So, now that brings us to the two points today, then a conclusion.
Today we look at victory over boredom using the same format we have used before.
Understanding boredom
By defining it
The causes of it
and the dangers of it
Victory over boredom through faith in Jesus
Changes our focus
Enlists us in His satisfying service
Then, Lord willing a quick wrap up.
Understanding boredom
Understanding boredom
To be able to see what victory we need, we need to see what the thing is, understand what it is that we need victory from.
Defining boredom
Garfield the cat picture here.
The foremost expect on being bored, I found this illustration in Garfield the cat.
so bored that you paint little faces on your claws, and pretend each one is a person.
So bored that you spend hours watching bread mold.
So bored that you braid your own eyebrows
So bored that you watch a 3-hour documentary om sewage treatment
So bored you start playing the spoons on the table
Then you question yourself, “am I really bored?”
Boredom picture inserted here
American Heritage Dictionary says it is: a condition of mental weariness, listlessness, and discontent
Interesting fact is that the word did not even enter into the English Vocabulary until the Enlightenment of the 18th century, the beginning of the modern era (from boredom and the law of diminishing returns).
Causes of boredom
Too much wealth, too much time with nothing must do.
It is an epidemic within children
Too much T.V. video games, computer games.
why? Since they are dealing with artificial things and not reality.
Parental guidance magazine once stated “Such activities which bombard children with fast-moving stimuli and do not give them a chance to slow down, reflect thoughtfully, or learn to process new information”.
Boredom can be traced to a lack of faith in God.
Eric Hoffer stated: “Boredom: the consciousnesses of a barren, meaningless existence."
Boredom has also been linked to, attributed to (unchallenging, unfulfilled, lack and too much)
Unchallenging jobs
Unfulfilled expectations
Lack of physical activity
Too much of being spectator vs. participant.
Danger of boredom: listless discontent, making one susceptible to what promises excitement.
How about some quotable quotes
“Boredom has made more gamblers than greed, more drunkards than thirst, and perhaps as many suicides as despair.” Charles Colton
“Boredom is often the motivation for adultery and divorce, abuse of alcohol or drugs, and even suicide.” (ibid, Veith)
“Boredom is…a vital problem for the moralist, since at least half of the sins of mankind are caused by the fear of it.” Bertrand Russell
Christian listlessness (boredom)
Not active in service to the Lord
Therefore not very useful to the Lord
We are really talking about Christians having victory over boredom through faith in Jesus Christ, so now let’s look at that.
Hold on one more quick thing.
Boredom has been called “a chronic symptom of pleasure-obsessed age.” (ibid Veith)
Overcoming boredom
Overcoming boredom
Faith saves us, faith sustains us, faith grows us, faith changes us, faith brings overcoming.
Jesus changes the focus of our life (Lk9:23-24; Mt6:19-21; Heb11:25; Jn15:11)
Teaches us to deny self
23 And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. 24 “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it.
Be honest, they are never happy and content
Christians in service are never bored
Christians change object of their affections
19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal;
21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
We go from temporal earthly things, to storing up heavenly things
No longer focused on earthly pleasures
25 choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin,
Jesus came to give us great joy, joy that is full.
11 “These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.
Faith that is a victory over boredom is obtained by following Jesus and His teaching. For we are attacking the root of the problem that causes boredom in the first place.
Jesus calls us to service, to serve (Mt16:15-16; Mt16:26; 3Jn3-4; 1Th2:19-20)
Many bored for they do not see results in effort put forth
Jesus enlists us in things with eternal consequences, results
Part of the soul saving process
15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.
Part of saving souls and not loosing them
26 “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
For there is no greater joy then to see the faith, service of another.
3 For I was very glad when brethren came and testified to your truth, that is, how you are walking in truth. 4 I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.
Serving God gives us hope for the future
19 For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? 20 For you are our glory and joy.
Think about this when you are engaged (part of our theme this year) in the work of Jesus, your labors, our labors are no in vain and have eternal consequences. How can we be bored with that?
Summing it up (conclusion) picture here
Solomon had everything and found everything to be vanity in this world
Ecc2:10-11 look it up in bible
Ecc2:10-11 “10 All that my eyes desired I did not refuse them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, for my heart was pleased because of all my labor and this was my reward for all my labor. 11 Thus I considered all my activities which my hands had done and the labor which I had exerted, and behold all was vanity and striving after wind and there was no profit under the sun.”
At the end of it all he found out what was really worth it and summed it up
Ecc12:13 (look it up in your bible)
Ecc12:13 “13 The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person.”
David gave great direction, no if Solomon had heeded the direction he may not have living a life filled with so much vanity that availed nothing
7 The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. 8 The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether. 10 They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.
11 Moreover, by them Your servant is warned; In keeping them there is great reward.
Rewards ahead, invitation slide.
(Invitation) (Song) (Prayer)