His Desire
The Whole Thanks • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 7 viewsGod is infinitely loving. God's creation of us is saturated with signs that God desires us. This desire is affirmed through God's continued signs and actions to reconcile our rebellious hearts to Him. Though many may see God as distant, He is an intimate God who loves you. God didn't have to do this; He could have easily just destroyed it all and started over again, but we can be thankful for God's infinitely loving nature and how He acts on His desire by adopting us into His family.
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Sermon Series Outline (Original)
Sermon Series Outline (Original)
November 2: Thankful for His Dominion
God Simply Is (Connect God's words at the burning bush, that He is the "I AM", with Solomon's words in Ecclesiastes that there is a season for all things. God will be whatever He Wills which means that all moments contain God's benevolence, judgment, graciousness, and sovereignty.)
God is Good in the High Points (Reference moments in the Bible such as the consecration of the Temple by Ezra as a moment to remember God. Reference David's victories and Psalms associated with thanksgiving as evidence God is there in the good times.)
God is Good in the Low Points (Mirror the last section by referencing some of David's Psalms showing thanksgiving for God even as he cries out for help. Point out our dependence on God's goodness in those moments and reference the healing of 10 lepers in John 17. Conclude the sermon by highlighting that of the 10, only 1 returned and was "healed by his faith"... use that as a charge to be the 1.)
November 9: Thankful for His Compassion
Compassion for the Outsider (Use the story of the Centurion who asked for healing for his servant as evidence that Christ is compassionate to those seen as outsiders.)
Compassion for the Sick (Use the story of the woman with internal bleeding as evidence that God healed those who were sick.)
Compassion for the Lost (Use the story of the feeding of the 5,000 and point out that it says Christ had compassion on the crowds seeking him.)
Compassion for the Broken (Use the story of Lazarus as evidence that Christ has compassion on all of us for the tragedies sin causes in this world.)
Compassion for the Sinners (Use imagery of the crucifixion and the statement that 'they know not what they do' as a display of God's compassion on us despite ourselves.)
November 16: Thankful for His Desire
God's Image (Start by pointing out that we were made in God's image and then relate this to the fact God is all about displaying His glory throughout the universe... this means that you are a reflection of what God wishes to display... WHOA!)
God's Pursuit (Identify several examples of God enacting His judgment, but also providing pathways for salvation and/or redemption, relating it to a pursuit of us rather than simply destroying us.)
God's Adoption (Point out that the ultimate show of God's desire is in adopting us as "sons". Reference Paul's words about being "heirs" of the kingdom and how that serves as a now-eternal display of God's desire.)
November 23: Thankful for His Salvation!
Salvation As Promised (Start with imagery of atonement after the fall in Eden, then carry through Abrahamic Covenants, prophecies of Jeremiah, and then Christ)
Salvation For All (Point out that the tax collector in Matthew and Samaritan woman at the well shows God wants forgiveness for even the most rejected and deeply-entrenched sinners)
Salvation Without Qualification (Identify the thief on the cross as an individual who had the 'deathbed confession' and Christ validates his salvation)
Reflection of Himself
Reflection of Himself
“Love” vs “Desire”?
Love is a state of effect. I am drawn to something I love.
Desire often carries the implication of pursuit. I pursue that which I desire.
I can love from afar, but I will pursue that which I desire.
God’s desire for us starts in creation.
26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, the whole earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth.” 27 So God created man in his own image; he created him in the image of God; he created them male and female.
You reflect the Creator… made in His image.
Other reflection passages in the creation story...
You are charged with reflecting God’s dominion (not as your own, but a reflection)
29 God also said, “Look, I have given you every seed-bearing plant on the surface of the entire earth and every tree whose fruit contains seed. This will be food for you, 30 for all the wildlife of the earth, for every bird of the sky, and for every creature that crawls on the earth—everything having the breath of life in it—I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so.
God imparts His spirit to you...
7 Then the Lord God formed the man out of the dust from the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being.
It is clear that you are special unlike any of the rest of creation. You are God’s own image and the expansion of that image is viewed as God’s righteous design. —->
PROFOUND POINT...
God sees His creation as “good”
31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good indeed. Evening came and then morning: the sixth day.
God desires that His image be written across creation and He choose US FOR THIS PURPOSE...
28 God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and every creature that crawls on the earth.”
Did you catch that? God’s Creation was good. Perfect, even. Something that is perfect you don’t want to “meddle with” and mess it up. Yet God’s instruction to Adam and Eve is to multiply and “fill the earth”. This means something PROFOUND… that God sees us as something that makes that which is “good” even more purposeful. We have a VERY special place in God’s heart because we were not merely made and told to “exist” or “stay put”; we were told to make ourselves present across the entire earth. We are the signature God choose to place across His masterpiece of this creation!!!
Maybe this is why God found it necessary to pursue us.
6 The woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it; she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. 8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden.
The original pursuit (evidence of desire)
God knew Adam and Eve sinned… yet He came looking for them anyway
Adam and Eve hid from God, yet God called out to them.
These may seem like simply details, but in a direct way you can see God’s pursuit even after knowing Adam and Eve failed. Let me ask you… do you continue to pursue something you build if it’s utilitarian? God proved time and time again in the Bible that He could wipe the slate clean, and yet HE PURSUED US. Why? The only conclusion you are left with is that God desires us, even despite our weaknesses and failures.
Read Genesis 1:26-31, 2:7 and think about how we are made as a direct reflection of God. Then read Genesis 3:6-8 and think about how God looked for Adam and Eve even after He knew they sinned.
1) Have you ever thought about the difference between ‘loving’ something and ‘desiring’ something? What could you see as differences between the two terms?
2) We all know “God loves us”, but think about the image of God knowing Adam and Eve failed at their purpose, and yet God pursued them anyway. Have you ever felt like God pursued you despite your failure?
Desire Proven in Redemption
Desire Proven in Redemption
God’s desire, and the pursuit of His creation is seen multiple times across the Bible.
Examples of pursuit...
God’s original atonement over Adam and Eve...
20 The man named his wife Eve because she was the mother of all the living. 21 The Lord God made clothing from skins for the man and his wife, and he clothed them.
God’s destruction of evil and provision of an Ark...
17 “Understand that I am bringing a flood—floodwaters on the earth to destroy every creature under heaven with the breath of life in it. Everything on earth will perish. 18 But I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark with your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives. 19 You are also to bring into the ark two of all the living creatures, male and female, to keep them alive with you. 20 Two of everything—from the birds according to their kinds, from the livestock according to their kinds, and from the animals that crawl on the ground according to their kinds—will come to you so that you can keep them alive. 21 Take with you every kind of food that is eaten; gather it as food for you and for them.”
Moving much further we have more examples
God judges, then provides blessing for David’s sin with Bathsheba...
11 “This is what the Lord says, ‘I am going to bring disaster on you from your own family: I will take your wives and give them to another before your very eyes, and he will sleep with them in broad daylight. 12 You acted in secret, but I will do this before all Israel and in broad daylight.’ ” 13 David responded to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Then Nathan replied to David, “And the Lord has taken away your sin; you will not die. 14 However, because you treated the Lord with such contempt in this matter, the son born to you will die.”
18 On the seventh day the baby died. But David’s servants were afraid to tell him the baby was dead. They said, “Look, while the baby was alive, we spoke to him, and he wouldn’t listen to us. So how can we tell him the baby is dead? He may do something desperate.” 19 When David saw that his servants were whispering to each other, he guessed that the baby was dead. So he asked his servants, “Is the baby dead?” “He is dead,” they replied. 20 Then David got up from the ground. He washed, anointed himself, changed his clothes, went to the Lord’s house, and worshiped. Then he went home and requested something to eat. So they served him food, and he ate.
24 Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba; he went to her and slept with her. She gave birth to a son and named him Solomon. The Lord loved him, 25 and he sent a message through the prophet Nathan, who named him Jedidiah, because of the Lord.
All of these build up to the ultimate display of God’s desire, the coming of Jesus Christ. Famously...
16 For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
These are not words that exude simple affection. This is a true desire the God has for His people. A desire that provides a path back to the Father no matter how far we roam or how distant we feel from our divine purpose.
Read the examples we discussed of God providing pathways to redemption despite our rebellion.
God pursues us even after sinning in the Garden of Eden: Genesis 3:20-21
God pursues us by providing a literal Ark to save mankind after the world has been corrupted: Genesis 6:17-21
God pursues us through life and blessing even after our worst mistakes: 2 Samuel 12:11-14,18-20,24-25
When is a time you felt you failed God, but God seemed to provide a blessing or another path? Were you entitled to that path? Would God have been equally as “just” for not providing it? What does God blessing you DESPITE what you deserve provide evidence of His desire?
Divine Adoption
Divine Adoption
A friend used to mention adoption in his sermons given the importance the cause of adoption was in his life. He notes that in many states, there are actually stronger laws bounding you to a child you adopt than a biological child. This is because in adoption, you chose the child and that choice carries profound meaning.
God’s desire also chooses us.
14 For all those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons. 15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!” 16 The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, 17 and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
God’s ultimate display of desire is His choice to make us who we are… reflections of His glory.
God’s desire is evident through His continued pathways to redemption.
God’s pursuit of us is perfected in how He makes us more than a creation; but actual heirs to His glory.
Despite who we are, despite what we have or have not done, God has a deeply burning desire to know us. That desire ultimately led to Him sending His son to die on a cross for our sins.
So if you’re looking for a reason to be thankful today, be thankful that God desires you... not because of who you are or what you deserve, but because of the glorious reflection God made you to be.
