SERIES: “UNDER THE SUN.”
TEXT: ECCLESIASTES 6:1-12.
Ecclesiastes 6 speaks on the uncertainties of life. In a nutshell, the preacher tells us to embrace the uncertainties of life. Enjoy the good days, grow in the bad days, but trust God every day. Gain wisdom in times of adversity, because wisdom will protect you from evil in good times and bad times also. God controls all the events of your life.
The main principles taught in chapter six are principles of longevity. God desires all of us to live long, but without Jesus Christ in your life, the stillborn child is better off than the unsatisfied rich man who has 100 children and never dies (he has no burial)-Vs. 3. Even if he lives 2,000 years, twice as long as Methuselah-Vs. 6, yet hates his life, the stillborn is better off, because the stillborn child at least finds rest. The still-born child at least experiences freedom from toil, anxiety and misery. The still-born child is better off than the unsatisfied rich man, who is also better off than the fool.
God wants His children to have longevity of life that is why He makes provision in the Bible for our bodies to be spiritually, physically, mentally and emotionally balanced.
God’s original plan for man was life not death, health and not sickness, energy and not weariness and radiance not dullness. If Adam and Eve had not sinned, they would have lived forever.
The Bible emphasizes that God is not interested in short life. The rate at which young people are dying shows that things are going wrong. Let us consider Deuteronomy 6:1-2; Job 5:26; Proverbs 3:3; 9:11; 10:27; 16:31. God is not interested in short life for His children. Gray hair is a crown of glory if you are in the way of righteousness.
In Psalm 90:10, “The days of our years are three score years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be four score years, yet is their strength labor and sorrow. For it is soon cut off and we fly away.”
This verse is a curse and not a blessing. It is the minimum, which a lot of people are now claiming.
You should not claim a curse, but even this minimum which is a curse, is different for a lot of people to attain.
In Psalm 91:16, “With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation.”
In Isaiah 65:22, “They shall not build and another inhabit, they shall not plant and another eat, for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.”
The Bible is telling us that it is a tragedy for somebody to sweat to gather, but before he would begin to reap the fruits, he dies-Ecclesiastes 6:1-2. Let us learn:-
SIX MAJOR WAYS BY WHICH PEOPLE DIE ON EARTH.
- A person can die by his own hand.
- A person can destroy himself; for example, by personal execution, personal murder or personal assassination. It is possible for a person to kill self, suicide is terrible.
- A person may die by the hands of another man or woman. It could be robbers, witches or wizards.
- A person can die by fear, even fear of death.
- A person may die by breaking natural laws like jumping from storey building or swimming without knowing how to swim.
- A person can die by succumbing to the aging process. When everything in the body is old the system may shut down.
- A person can die of sickness or disease.
WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF SHORT LIFE?
- Disobedience to parents-Ephesians 6:1-3.
- If you dishonor your father and mother, the reverse will be the case and that is untimely death.
- Someone will say, my parents are bad people.
- You have an assignment to respect and honor your parents. You are not to hate them, but if they are being used by evil spirit which work against your destiny, we must contend with the evil spirit-Eph. 6:12.
- You are to assist your parents financially. If you feel they might misuse the money against you, “Anoint the money and send it.”
- Not walking in the way of the Lord. Failure to walk in the way of the Lord will bring short life-Deut. 5:33.
- When you walk in the path of righteousness the Lord will prolong your life.
- God will not protect you when your life is a disgrace to Him.
- Failure to teach the word of God at home. If you fail to teach the word of God at home, it leads to short life-Deut. 11:19-21.
- Not fearing the Lord-Prov. 10:27, “The fear of the Lord prolongeth days; but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.”
- Nothing happens by chance; everything is programmed in the spirit. Stray bullets or accidents.
- The only thing that will make you live for God and avoid sin in your life is the fear of God. When you don’t fear God, your days will be short.
- Failure to control your tongue-1st Peter 3:10.
“For he that will love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil and his lips that they speak no guile.”
- One of the greatest causes of short life is the tongue.
- Many have died, others have gone to bondage because of their tongues.
- You don’t have to say everything, at times is very important to keep quiet.
- Angels of God don’t tolerate indiscipline and they can be easily provoked.
- God warned the children of Israel “I will place my angel before you to go on the way that you will go, but take heed that you don’t provoke him. If you do he will not pardon you.” Don’t provoke him because he does not understand the word “please.”
- The angel did not forgive Zachariah when he doubted him and said, “Can these things be? I am an old man and my wife is advanced in age.”
- The angel said, “I am Gabriel, I come from the throne of God to give you this massage and you are talking rubbish. For that, you shall be dumb.”
- May the Lord deliver us from the trap of the tongue.
- Pursuing evil-Prov. 11:19.
“As righteousness tendeth to life, so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death.”
- If you are pursuing an evil agenda, you are doing so at your own hurt.
- Forgetting the laws of God. This leads to short life.
- Allowing an evil weight on your heart-Proverbs 17:22.
“The merry heart doeth good like medicine but a broken spirit drieth the bones.”
- When you allow spiritual wounds in your heart, you will waste away.
- When you keep envy, anger, cruelty, fear, immorality it would affect your body, soul and spirit.
- Many terminal diseases are caused by bad attitude of the heart-Prov. 14:30.
“A sound heart is the life of the flesh, but envy the rottenness of bones.”
The attitude of your heart can shorten your life, if all you think is sin and lust, it means you are going to die very young.
- Wounded heart and negative emotions.
- This can cause all kinds of sicknesses. It mean you are being cruel to yourself.
- Lack of knowledge of spiritual prevention.
- Lack of spiritual knowledge shortens life.
- Memorize scripture to prevent and protect your life. The following are immunity scriptures-Exodus 15:26; Deut. 7:15; Isa. 43:2; 54:17; Psalm 46:1; 27:1-2; Psalm 91:1; 105:14-15; Zach. 2:5; Psalm 34:7; Prov. 3:24; Mark 16:18; Luke 10:19; Levi. 17:11.
- Let the blood of Jesus be transfused into my blood in Jesus name.
- Render your blood untouchable to any disease, in Jesus name.
8 GREAT RULES TO LIVE LONG IN PROSPERITY AND PEACE-Prov. 3.
- Let love and faithfulness never leave you-Vs. 3-4.
- Trust the Lord with all your heart-Vs. 5-6.
- Do not be wise in your own eyes-Vs. 7-8.
- Honor the Lord with your wealth-Vs. 9-10.
- Do not despise the Lord’s discipline-Vs. 11-12.
- Search diligently for wisdom and find it-Vs. 13-24.
- Have no fear-Vs. 25-26.
- Don’t withhold God from those who deserve it-Vs. 27-28, Go extra mile.
CONCLUSION
- Put your hands on your head/ “I charge my body with the fire of God-in Jesus name.”
- “O God establish your kingdom in every department of my life-in Jesus name.”
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