VIDEO RECORDING OF THIS SERMON
AUDIO RECORDING OF THIS SERMON
Rev 4:11 says, “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” We were created for the Lord’s pleasure. We want to see what brings God pleasure since we were created for his pleasure. The Lord takes pleasure in:
The salvation of the lost – Ezek 33:11 says, “As I live saith the Lord, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live.” See Ezek 18:23 and 18:32, as well. If God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked, and he is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance, and Christ died for all men, then surely God finds pleasure in the salvation of the lost. Jesus reaps the reward of his sacrifice when anyone trusts the Lord as his Savior.
The fear of his saints – Ps 147:11 says, “the Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him.” In Phil 2:12-13, we are to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” In Deut 10:12-13, the Lord simply required Israel to fear him, walk with him, love him, serve him, and obey him. That’s what we should do. In Heb 11:5-6 Enoch walked with God after Methuselah was born and had this testimony that he pleased God. And we will too if we fear him and walk with him by faith. His angels and his hosts, his ministers, do his pleasure, Ps 103:21, and in the fear of God, we should, too.
The praises of his saints – Ps 149:4, “The Lord taketh pleasure in his people.” In the context, Israel is praising God at the second coming of Jesus Christ. Likewise, in Heb 13:15-16, we offer the sacrifice of praise, “for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.”
The prosperity of his saints – Ps 35:27, “Let the Lord be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.” Look at Jos 1:8. The Lord wanted Joshua to be prosperous and successful. When we read, meditate upon, and follow what’s written in this book, God’s word, God makes our way prosperous and successful. That doesn’t mean we’ll be rolling in dough. It means that we will prosper and succeed in the purpose for which God created us, Eph 2:10.
Conclusion: 2 Tim 3:4 tells us that in the last days been shall be “lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.” To please God, we often have to turn away from our own pleasures as Israel had to do in Is 58:13-14. When we cease trying to find our own pleasure, then we delight in the Lord. He is pleased and we are delighted. It’s what the world likes to call a win-win situation. Only, this one is for real.