Sermon Notes - The Pursuit of Pleasure

"Only an eternal God can satisfy the longings of our eternal soul.  God created us as eternal beings.  Everyone will live for eternity somewhere and we were created to have a relationship with the eternal God who made us.  When we reject that and put our hope and our identity in earthly things, it can't fill that void.  No amount of wine, no amount of parties, no amount of friends, no amount of love anyone else can give, can satisfy the longing I have in my soul because it is meant to be filled by an eternal God."  Solomon

Solomon's pursuit - pleasure
The Church's response - legalism  (legalism -  you can't do this and follow Christ)
God's desire for us - satisfaction in Him

Legalism produces misery so kids run away from the church to the world, pursue sinful pleasures, then suffer the consequences of sin.

God has two great enemies - sin and legalism.

God wants us to enjoy life.  John 10:10

What keeps people from sinning?  Not rules, but satisfaction.

When we are satisfied in God and our relationship with Him, we don't need to turn to sin - overeating, drunkenness, sex outside of marriage, love of money...

God offers us a feast, and we settle for gluttony.  God offers us a party, rejoicing and celebrating with His people, and we settle for drunkenness.  God offers us laughter, real laughter that fills our hearts and makes us joyful, and we settle for coarse joking.  God offers to forgive us of our sins, we settle for legalism and trying to earn God's favor through our works.  God offers us sexual fulfillment in marriage, we settle for pornography.  The issue is not that there is no joy and no pleasure when we pursue the Lord.  The issue is that we get lazy.  We turn our eyes off of Christ and we get distracted by things that leave us wanting.

Pursue Jesus and enjoy the things He's given us, according to the counsel of His Word - His love letter to us on how to have abundant, satisfying, life.

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Notes taken from Sunday's message at Harvest Bible Chapel Spring Lake - powerful, life-changing teaching from God's Word on pleasure, legalism, and God's desire for us - satisfaction in Him.  Please take the time to listen...