Finding True Joy: Discipleship Beyond Temporary Pleasures

Devotional

Day 1: Lifelong Journey of Surrender

Following Jesus is not just about a one-time decision but a lifelong journey of surrendering every aspect of our lives to His lordship. This includes taking steps like baptism to publicly declare our faith and commitment. Baptism is an outward expression of an inward change, symbolizing our death to sin and resurrection to a new life in Christ. It is a significant step in our spiritual journey, marking our commitment to follow Jesus wholeheartedly.

As we grow in our faith, we continually learn to surrender different areas of our lives to God. This process of sanctification involves daily decisions to trust and obey Him, even when it’s difficult. It’s about allowing God to transform our hearts and minds, aligning our desires with His will. By doing so, we experience the fullness of life that Jesus promised.

[01:27]

Romans 6:4 (ESV): "We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to Jesus? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?

Day 2: The Futility of Chasing Pleasure

King Solomon’s pursuit of pleasure through wealth, relationships, and material possessions ultimately led him to conclude that it was all meaningless. This serves as a powerful reminder that true satisfaction cannot be found in worldly pursuits. Solomon had everything—wealth, wisdom, and women—yet he found it all to be meaningless without God. His story mirrors our own culture’s obsession with finding fulfillment in material possessions, power, and temporary joys.

In Ecclesiastes 2, Solomon describes his quest for pleasure through laughter, wine, wealth, and relationships, only to conclude that it was all like chasing the wind. This is a sobering reminder that the things of this world can never truly satisfy our deepest longings. True fulfillment comes from a relationship with God, who alone can provide lasting joy and peace.

[05:44]

Ecclesiastes 2:10-11 (ESV): "And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil. Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun."

Reflection: Reflect on a recent pursuit or goal you’ve had. Did it bring you lasting satisfaction, or did it leave you wanting more? How can you shift your focus to find fulfillment in your relationship with God instead?

Day 3: God-Designed Pleasures

Not all pleasure is sinful. God designed certain pleasures, like sex within marriage, to be good and fulfilling. However, seeking pleasure outside of God’s design leads to pain and emptiness. God created us to enjoy life and experience joy, but within the boundaries He has set for our good. When we seek pleasure in ways that go against His design, we end up hurting ourselves and others.

Solomon’s story warns us that anything we put before God becomes an idol, and these idols will never satisfy our deepest longings. True pleasure and joy come from God Himself. When we align our desires with His will, we experience the fullness of joy that He intends for us. Psalm 16:11 tells us that in God’s presence, there is fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore.

[16:52]

1 Corinthians 6:18-20 (ESV): "Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body."

Reflection: Are there any pleasures you are seeking outside of God’s design? How can you realign your desires with God’s will and experience the true joy He offers?

Day 4: Idolatry of Pleasure

Anything we put before God becomes an idol. Solomon’s story warns us that these idols, whether they are wealth, power, or relationships, will never satisfy our deepest longings. True fulfillment comes from a relationship with God. Idolatry is not just about worshiping physical idols; it’s about placing anything above God in our hearts. When we do this, we are essentially saying that we trust these things to bring us happiness and security more than we trust God.

Solomon had everything—wealth, wisdom, and women—yet he found it all to be meaningless without God. This is a powerful reminder that true satisfaction and joy come from a relationship with God, not from the fleeting pleasures of this world. When we make God the center of our lives, we experience lasting fulfillment that circumstances cannot change.

[18:44]

Isaiah 44:9-10 (ESV): "All who fashion idols are nothing, and the things they delight in do not profit. Their witnesses neither see nor know, that they may be put to shame. Who fashions a god or casts an idol that is profitable for nothing?"

Reflection: What are some things in your life that you might be placing above God? How can you begin to shift your focus and trust back to Him?

Day 5: True Joy in God

Psalm 16:11 tells us that in God’s presence, there is fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore. True pleasure and joy come from God Himself, and when we make Him the center of our lives, we experience lasting fulfillment that circumstances cannot change. This is a profound truth that challenges us to seek God above all else. When we do, we find that He is more than enough to satisfy our deepest longings.

The world offers many temporary pleasures, but they pale in comparison to the joy that comes from knowing God. When we spend time in His presence, we are filled with His peace, love, and joy. This is not dependent on our circumstances but on our relationship with Him. By placing our faith in His death, burial, and resurrection, we can experience the true pleasure that comes from a relationship with God.

[24:14]

Psalm 16:11 (ESV): "You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."

Reflection: How can you prioritize spending time in God’s presence this week? What changes can you make in your daily routine to seek Him first and experience the fullness of joy He offers?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we gathered to celebrate the goodness of God and the incredible work He is doing in our church. This year alone, 1,110 people have said yes to Jesus Christ, which is truly amazing. However, following Jesus is more than just a one-time decision; it’s about lifelong discipleship and surrendering every aspect of our lives to His lordship. One of the first steps in this journey is baptism, and we have an upcoming baptism service where 75 people have already signed up. If you haven’t been baptized yet, I encourage you to take this important step in your spiritual journey.

I shared my personal story of growing up in church and having a skewed view of God as a cosmic killjoy. This led me to chase after pleasure and fun, thinking that God was holding out on me. Like King Solomon, who pursued every form of pleasure imaginable, I found that these pursuits were ultimately meaningless. Solomon, in Ecclesiastes 2, describes his quest for pleasure through laughter, wine, wealth, and relationships, only to conclude that it was all like chasing the wind.

We examined how Solomon’s pursuit of pleasure mirrors our own culture’s obsession with finding fulfillment in material possessions, power, and temporary joys. Solomon had everything—wealth, wisdom, and women—yet he found it all to be meaningless without God. This is a powerful reminder that true satisfaction and joy come from a relationship with God, not from the fleeting pleasures of this world.

I emphasized that not all pleasure is sinful and that God designed certain pleasures, like sex within marriage, to be good. However, when we seek pleasure outside of God’s design, it leads to pain and emptiness. Solomon’s story warns us that anything we put before God becomes an idol, and these idols will never satisfy our deepest longings.

Ultimately, true pleasure and joy come from God Himself. Psalm 16:11 tells us that in God’s presence, there is fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore. I challenged everyone to examine their lives and ask if they are chasing anything other than God for fulfillment. If so, today is the day to turn to Jesus, who offers everlasting joy and freedom. By placing our faith in His death, burial, and resurrection, we can experience the true pleasure that comes from a relationship with God.

###

Key Takeaways

1. time decision but a lifelong journey of surrendering every aspect of our lives to His lordship. This includes taking steps like baptism to publicly declare our faith and commitment. [01:27]
2. The Futility of Chasing Pleasure: King Solomon’s pursuit of pleasure through wealth, relationships, and material possessions ultimately led him to conclude that it was all meaningless. This serves as a powerful reminder that true satisfaction cannot be found in worldly pursuits.

3. God-Designed Pleasures: Not all pleasure is sinful. God designed certain pleasures, like sex within marriage, to be good and fulfilling. However, seeking pleasure outside of God’s design leads to pain and emptiness.

4. Idolatry of Pleasure: Anything we put before God becomes an idol. Solomon’s story warns us that these idols, whether they are wealth, power, or relationships, will never satisfy our deepest longings. True fulfillment comes from a relationship with God.

5. True Joy in God: Psalm 16:11 tells us that in God’s presence, there is fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore. True pleasure and joy come from God Himself, and when we make Him the center of our lives, we experience lasting fulfillment that circumstances cannot change.

### [01:27]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:27] - Importance of Baptism
[02:50] - Personal Story: Growing Up in Church
[04:14] - Misconceptions About God
[05:44] - Solomon’s Pursuit of Pleasure
[07:40] - The Futility of Wealth and Possessions
[09:06] - The Pleasure of Sin for a Season
[10:37] - The Emptiness of Comedy and Laughter
[12:06] - The Dangers of Alcohol and Drugs
[13:38] - The Culture of Chasing Pleasure
[15:10] - Solomon’s Wealth and Relationships
[16:52] - The Design of Godly Pleasure
[18:44] - The Idolatry of Pleasure
[20:22] - The Progress Paradox
[22:44] - True Joy in God
[24:14] - God as Our Ultimate Pleasure
[38:57] - Invitation to Turn to Jesus
[40:16] - God’s Pleasure in Us
[41:55] - Prayer for Salvation
[43:38] - Celebration of New Life in Christ

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What were some of the pleasures King Solomon pursued according to Ecclesiastes 2:1-11? How did he describe the outcome of these pursuits? [05:44]
According to Psalm 16:11, where can true joy and pleasure be found?
How does Hebrews 11:24-25 describe Moses' choice regarding pleasure and suffering? What does this tell us about the nature of sin's pleasure?

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Solomon found his pursuit of pleasure to be ultimately meaningless? How does this reflect on our own culture's obsession with material possessions and temporary joys? [05:44]
Psalm 16:11 speaks of fullness of joy in God's presence. How does this contrast with the fleeting pleasures Solomon experienced?
Hebrews 11:24-25 mentions that Moses chose to suffer with God's people rather than enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. What does this choice reveal about the value of eternal joy versus temporary pleasure?

Application Questions

Reflect on your own life. Are there areas where you are chasing after temporary pleasures instead of seeking fulfillment in God? How can you begin to shift your focus? [24:14]
Solomon had everything—wealth, wisdom, and relationships—yet found it all meaningless without God. What are some "idols" in your life that you might be placing before God? How can you start to dismantle these idols? [18:44]
The sermon mentioned that not all pleasure is sinful and that God designed certain pleasures to be good. How can you discern between godly pleasures and those that lead to emptiness and pain? [16:52]
Psalm 16:11 says that in God's presence, there is fullness of joy. What practical steps can you take to spend more time in God's presence this week?
The pastor shared his personal story of chasing after pleasure and finding it empty. Have you had similar experiences? How did those experiences shape your understanding of true joy and fulfillment? [04:14]
The sermon emphasized the importance of lifelong discipleship and surrendering every aspect of our lives to Jesus. What is one area of your life that you find difficult to surrender? How can you take a step towards surrendering it to God this week? [01:27]
The pastor challenged everyone to examine their lives and ask if they are chasing anything other than God for fulfillment. What is one specific change you can make this week to prioritize your relationship with God over other pursuits? [24:14]

Sermon Clips

1. "Being a follower of Jesus is not just about raising a hand on a Sunday or praying the sinner's prayer. It's about lifelong followership of Jesus. It's about surrendering everything in your life to the lordship of Christ. If you're here and you're not yet a follower of Jesus, we get excited when people say yes to Jesus but we really exist as a church to give people an opportunity to become fully engaged followers of Jesus." [01:27] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "My view of God was party pooper, cosmic killjoy, fun patrol because my understanding of religion was there was a do's list and a don'ts list and the do's list didn't look very fun and the don'ts list it must be pretty amazing if everyone's telling you not to do it. And going to church, dress up, they must have been channeling my mom this morning, dressed up a little bit, sit still and be quiet." [04:14] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "If there's ever been anyone in the scriptures who chased after pleasure, it's King Solomon. And today we're going to continue our series on the book of Ecclesiastes called Chasing Wind. And I'm going to go straight to the text. It's in Ecclesiastes chapter 2. I would love for you to participate so you're going to see some words on the screen and they're going to be in blue and that means I want you to read those out loud when we get to them." [05:44] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "All pleasure is not sin and all sin is not pleasurable. But it can be, the Bible says, for a season. In the book of Hebrews, in the New Testament, Hebrews chapter 11 is full of all these great men and women of faith. And it gets to a section on Moses in Hebrews 11, 24. And it says that Moses did not take on the fame and the clout of being Pharaoh's daughter's adopted son, but instead, now let's read Hebrews 11, 25 together. It says, that, said Moses, talking about him, he chose or choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasure of sin for a season." [09:06] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "If you have something that you put your value into that your worth is expressed through something and my God became pleasure, fun, if it felt good do it. We call that hedonism and if I could experience it I would do it and I did that all the way until I was 15 and I was like I'm going to do it until my early 20s until I met Jesus Christ." [05:44] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "Pleasure's advertising agency is much more effective than its manufacturing department. And we live in an age where all we see if you happen to be on social media is the next advertisement that tells you if you have this you will finally be happy. If you experience that then you'll finally be happy. If you had the money to go where they went on their feed then you'll have joy and it's all a myth, it's all a lie." [18:44] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "The more we have, the unhappier we become because we know that we will never be able to get all the new things we want. The moment that you pull the trigger and you get the new iPhone, they've already got the next one designed so that that one's obsolete. The second you get a car that you've been saving to buy for when you drive it off the lot, oh buyer's remorse, I'm gonna go return this." [20:22] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "All pleasure is not sinful. Actually, Solomon says, and Pastor Josh did a great job last week, didn't he? Amazing work, Pastor Josh. He read this same passage at the end of chapter two. Solomon makes this observation: So I decided there is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and to find satisfaction in work. Then I realized that these pleasures are from the hand of God. For who can eat or enjoy anything apart from him?" [22:44] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "Pleasure comes from God. God doesn't just give us pleasure, God is our pleasure. He doesn't just give it to us, he is our pleasure. And when that becomes the center of your life, you find your hope and your peace and your joy and your pleasure in a love relationship with God that is satisfying. No one can take that away, circumstances can't change it." [24:14] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "Are you chasing anything other than God to find pleasure and hope in life? Maybe not at the same level because you don't have the power or the wealth of King Solomon, but in your context, in your world, ask yourself that question right now. Am I chasing something other than God? Because this is my greatest fear, that if you are chasing something other than God, that you will get to the end of your life and you will realize that you were chasing the wrong things." [38:57] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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