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Chuck Smith :: Sermon Notes for Ecclesiastes 1:1-3

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← Back to Chuck Smith's Bio & Resources
"FRUSTRATION, IT'S CAUSE AND CURE"
I. FRUSTRATION - THWARTED DESIRES.
A. Three types:
1. Environmental.
2. Personal.
3. Conflict.
a. Approach - approach.
b. Avoidance - avoidance.
c. Approach - avoidance.
B. Our reactions to them can take two forms:
1. Aggressive.
2. Withdraw, hide.
II. THE CAUSES OF FRUSTRATIONS.
A. Trying to find fulfillment in things physical.
1. Some seek to deny or ignore the spiritual dimension of man's nature.
2. The real you is spirit.
3. The body is not really you, only house.
a. Thus to live for body and to seek only to satisfy its appetites will lead to emptiness.
4. Physical life moves in monotonous cycles, vs. 4-12.
a. "Nothing new under sun."
5. Physical joys not lasting, vs. 2:1-3.
6. Physical work and possession are also empty, vs. 2:4-11.
7. Even intellectual pursuit of purely physical things is empty and frustrating, vs. 2:12-23.
B. Why is the physical realm frustrating?
1. It is so short lived.
a. My strength fails.
b. Beauty fades.
c. The grave waits for what's left.
2. You give your life for a project.
a. After you are gone those who follow may destroy all you built up.
III. THE CURE.
A. Place the spiritual dimension of your life first. Give it top priority.
1. "Seek ye first the kingdom..."
2. This is the supernatural way to live.
a. From natural birth, body appetites ruled. "Ye must be born again."
b. From spiritual birth now rules.
B. So gratifying to know my labor is not just wasted on my appetite.
1. "Your labor for the Lord is not in vain."
2. That my treasure cannot be lost to:
a. Decaying processes.
b. Thieves.
c. Inflation.
C. It all begins when you invite Jesus Christ to become Lord of your life.
Sermon Notes for Ecclesiastes 1:1-3 ← Prior Section
Sermon Notes for Ecclesiastes 1:13-18, 2:1-17 Next Section →
Sermon Notes for Proverbs 1:7 ← Prior Book
Sermon Notes for Song of Solomon 1 Next Book →
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