Delighting in the Lord

Introduction

Good morning, I hope each of you are doing well my friends.

It is so good to see you all, a pastor is blessed to see his friends worshipping together as one body, celebrating the Lordship of Jesus Christ in our lives.

Now today as we have gathered together, we see some wonderful things around us...

The weather is changing and the weather is so much warmer.

The days are getting longer and summer and with it summer break is almost here.

And we get excited, it makes us happy....

And that is our topic today, happiness and joy.

When I look out at this world, I see a world looking for that which makes them happy.

People are in pursuit of joy! They are looking for happiness, and the world is trying to sell us happiness.

A new car.... will make you happy A new get away will make you happy

A new get away will make you happy

A new get away will make you happy

A new phone will make you happy. ... A little bit of retail therapy will make you happy...

A little bit of retail therapy will make you happy...

A little bit of retail therapy will make you happy...

Oh, and how do you look… need a little cosmetic surgery? A nip or tuck here, a boost or pull there.... you will be complete.

So honestly what happens is that people try one thing, and when the satisfaction wanes.. they are off in search of something else...

So honestly what happens is that people try one thing, and when the satisfaction wanes.. they are off in search of something else...

And here is the truth.. what the world offers is superficial…

But what the Lord gives is lasting...

So lets consider this topic, our true delight is not found in what the world offers but what the Lord gives..

So this morning we look at the book of Psalms… and we will examine , verse 4 as a core and then a few other passages...

Psalm 37:4 ESV

4 Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Psalm 1 ESV

1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. 4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; 6 for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

So with this I want to address this question… How can we delight in the Lord?

So let me share with you how I believe we can honestly delight in the Lord and His ways...

Please understand the phrase here in verse 4 is not a suggestion or a hope, try to do this...

It is actually a command...

1. A Simple Command...

The command God himself gives us is to delight in Him.. So what does this mean? Lets break it down...

The first line of verse 4 says “Delight yourself in the Lord...”

Now there is a key word that we cannot afford to miss here in this verse.. And it is is not delight, it is the word Lord. The word here is YHWH, the personal name of God.

Remember in When Moses asked God “who should I say has sent me to them....”

Exodus 3:13–14 ESV

13 Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” 14 God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’ ”

The most beautiful word in all of the languages of humanity… YHWH.

Now you have heard me tell you so many times before… The name of God is a verb form, not a noun. the name of God “the great I Am” it literally means “To Be”.

So the name of God …TO Be speaks to the one God who has always been. No beginning or ending, He has always been.

How beautiful....

So the command here is for us, to find our delight, our pleasure in that one person who has called us to walk along side of him. The one who has always been...

Now I know what someone might ask… Can we find our delight in Lord?

No there are days that are tough… days that are difficult.

But what we can say is this...

Yes.. In every situation of life, our delight can be in Him.

Understand delight isnt always equated as a laughing, happy joyous days.

Now there are days that are tough… days that are difficult.

But what we can say is this…delight means that He is that which keeps us centered, He is that which produces joy and thanksgiving in the midst of sorrow.

Think of death, we are sorrowful in a persons death, but we rejoice in Jesus, in who He is, because he is our Savior and has given unto us eternal life.

So we can find our delight in the one true God… the creator of Heaven and Earth.

The Sustainer and Redeemer of all...

Now lets finish this thought....

And if our delight, our joy is in Him… what is the outcome?

He will give you the desires of your heart… that is what David says...

Oh boy, I;m getting that Ferrari after all.... NO.

Remember our delight is in Him… not other things… as such the word desire there means petition… What are your petitions in front of God.

What are you asking for....

The desire of our heart is truly what has been developed from the attitude of prayer on our knees… It is what is lawful and right...

Consider

Matthew 6:33 ESV

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

In the sermon on the mount, Jesus teaches us that when His kingdom, His will and righteousness are sought first in a persons life, the rest of life is found.

So this simple command gives life, it blesses and sustains us because we have found our joy and hope in Him and nothing else.

So truly Jesus echos the Old Testament message, delight in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart...

Those desires will tie in uniquely with His righteousness, and that my friends is where we find our joy and peace.

So this simple command gives life, it blesses and sustains us because we have found our joy and hope in Him and nothing else.

Jesus reminds us that we must be last and He, His kingdom and His righteousness has to be sought after first. So he has

Let me ask you a question today, what do you truly delight in… is it His Kingdom and ways or is it this world?

So this simple command gives life, it blesses and sustains us because we have found our joy and hope in Him and nothing else.

So this simple command gives life, it blesses and sustains us because we have found our joy and hope in Him and nothing else.

A simple command calls for us to realign our thinking, our focus and our ways...

A simple command calls for us to realign our thinking, our focus and our ways...

2. A Simple Passion...

When I look around today I see people reading a variety of books, magazines and other works in this life....

I see people reading the horoscopes from the newspaper and other resources around them.. And they say to themselves, I should or shouldn’t do this or that based on what they read… Hoping their passion, comes true...

And then there are those romance novels… They all have the same person on the cover, its all Fabio… just different hair or clothes… they read it hoping to ignite their passions… And guys, what about those swimsuit calendars… you are not off the hook.

Other publications....etc...

It doesn’t matter, if you are chasing after those things instead of the most important things… you have truly missed the mark.

So lets look at

Romans 7:22 ESV

22 For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being,

There is that word again.. delight.

The same word, this time in the Greek but uniquely has the same meaning… it means to take a great deal of pleasure or mental satisfaction in… it express the state of mind a person has when they say.. from the bottom of my heart… I love it.

Paul is reminding man, from the bottom of our heart, our delight should be in the law of God , deep down...

The law of God speaks to the commandments, the Torah and yes to the whole of God’s word.

Think of it like this.. Do you love the word of God more than Facebook? Instagram, more than anything?

Let me share two verses with you..

The man of God, namely any man of God should be one...

Psalm 1:2 ESV

2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.

You have heard me speak of the word meditate here before.. but lets recap.. what is is not: Lotus position and chanting

What it is… Seeing, speaking and hearing the word of God as you bring it into your life.

Psalm 119:35 ESV

35 Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it.

Ps 119:35

David says here… What your word ( your commandments) outlines, directs me in a certain pathway… Your ways… and that I delight in.

Psalm 112:1 ESV

1 Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commandments!

If you love God my friends you will love his word as well, there no separation from it and him. to love the word is to love him and to love him is to love the Word.

The Word of God is special… the written revelation of Himself to us.

But the question remains, do you delight in the word of God. Do you love him and in turn do you love the word of God...

But let me share this thought with you in just one more way...

1. A Simple Purpose

As I look around this place today I am reminded that we are here for a purpose, a simple purpose but one that is uniquely His divine plan.

Several years ago a pastor in California, Rick Warren wrote a book called the purpose driven life and in it is a basic question....

What on earth are you here for?

What is Rick Warren asking here… What is your purpose? Sadly there are many who will never understand, find and fulfill their purposes because they are not asking and seeking God purposes for their life....

So let me share this passage with you...

Isaiah 40:8 ESV

8 The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.

Psalm 40:8 ESV

8 I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.”

The Psalmist tells us exactly where his heart this… He desires to do the will of God.

The obedient heart of the Psalmist, which is being poured out here in His desire to do the will of God, it points to the future. This passage has a future look in it… it is a look to Christ. Jesus said time and time again” I came not to do my will, but the will of the one who sent me...”

This passage has a future look in it… it is a look to Christ. Jesus said time and time again” I came not to do my will, but the will of the one who sent me...”

Paul said He became obedient unto death, even death on the cross…

And in both cases, the psalmist sharing his heart and Jesus speaking of his mission… the will of God is central in that passage.

And where do we find the will of God also explained.. in the word of God. The will of God is tied to the Word of God…wow

I think about my calling… When God spoke to me can called me to preach 35 years ago...

Where did I hear him speak… first He spoke to me through the Word of God and then He affirmed it in prayer.

Mark 16:15 ESV

15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.

That day when I read that verse, it came alive to me… 3 mons later I preached my first message and man… it was tough. But He has always been faithful.

And see, when the word of God is central to our lives, we cannot slip in our walk in front of him..

And look at where what His will is tied to,… the word and law of God.

Psalm 37:31 ESV

31 The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not slip.

God’s law in the heart is what keeps our steps sure. His word in our heart keeps our steps faithful and His word in our hearts keeps it all about him.

The purpose is not complicated, it is simple. Come and follow me.

And in following you have the opportunity to be used of God for His glory and and the end of your day… you will declare I have delighted in HIs ways.

Exodus 3:20 ESV

20 So I will stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all the wonders that I will do in it; after that he will let you go.

Exodus 3 ESV

1 Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. 3 And Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.” 4 When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” 5 Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” 6 And he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God. 7 Then the Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, 8 and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 9 And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. 10 Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” 11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” 12 He said, “But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.” 13 Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” 14 God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’ ” 15 God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations. 16 Go and gather the elders of Israel together and say to them, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, has appeared to me, saying, “I have observed you and what has been done to you in Egypt, 17 and I promise that I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, a land flowing with milk and honey.” ’ 18 And they will listen to your voice, and you and the elders of Israel shall go to the king of Egypt and say to him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us; and now, please let us go a three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God.’ 19 But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless compelled by a mighty hand. 20 So I will stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all the wonders that I will do in it; after that he will let you go. 21 And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and when you go, you shall not go empty, 22 but each woman shall ask of her neighbor, and any woman who lives in her house, for silver and gold jewelry, and for clothing. You shall put them on your sons and on your daughters. So you shall plunder the Egyptians.”

Exodus 3:

So with this I want to address this question… How can we delight in the Lord?

Zechariah 6 ESV

1 Again I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, four chariots came out from between two mountains. And the mountains were mountains of bronze. 2 The first chariot had red horses, the second black horses, 3 the third white horses, and the fourth chariot dappled horses—all of them strong. 4 Then I answered and said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?” 5 And the angel answered and said to me, “These are going out to the four winds of heaven, after presenting themselves before the Lord of all the earth. 6 The chariot with the black horses goes toward the north country, the white ones go after them, and the dappled ones go toward the south country.” 7 When the strong horses came out, they were impatient to go and patrol the earth. And he said, “Go, patrol the earth.” So they patrolled the earth. 8 Then he cried to me, “Behold, those who go toward the north country have set my Spirit at rest in the north country.” 9 And the word of the Lord came to me: 10 “Take from the exiles Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, who have arrived from Babylon, and go the same day to the house of Josiah, the son of Zephaniah. 11 Take from them silver and gold, and make a crown, and set it on the head of Joshua, the son of Jehozadak, the high priest. 12 And say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, “Behold, the man whose name is the Branch: for he shall branch out from his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord. 13 It is he who shall build the temple of the Lord and shall bear royal honor, and shall sit and rule on his throne. And there shall be a priest on his throne, and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.” ’ 14 And the crown shall be in the temple of the Lord as a reminder to Helem, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Hen the son of Zephaniah. 15 “And those who are far off shall come and help to build the temple of the Lord. And you shall know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. And this shall come to pass, if you will diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God.”

Philippians 2 ESV

1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. 14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. 17 Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me. 19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. 20 For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. 21 For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know Timothy’s proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel. 23 I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me, 24 and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also. 25 I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need, 26 for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. 29 So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men, 30 for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.

Psalm 37 ESV

Of David. 1 Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! 2 For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb. 3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. 4 Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. 6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. 7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! 8 Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. 9 For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land. 10 In just a little while, the wicked will be no more; though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there. 11 But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace. 12 The wicked plots against the righteous and gnashes his teeth at him, 13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he sees that his day is coming. 14 The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose way is upright; 15 their sword shall enter their own heart, and their bows shall be broken. 16 Better is the little that the righteous has than the abundance of many wicked. 17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the Lord upholds the righteous. 18 The Lord knows the days of the blameless, and their heritage will remain forever; 19 they are not put to shame in evil times; in the days of famine they have abundance. 20 But the wicked will perish; the enemies of the Lord are like the glory of the pastures; they vanish—like smoke they vanish away. 21 The wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives; 22 for those blessed by the Lord shall inherit the land, but those cursed by him shall be cut off. 23 The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way; 24 though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand. 25 I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread. 26 He is ever lending generously, and his children become a blessing. 27 Turn away from evil and do good; so shall you dwell forever. 28 For the Lord loves justice; he will not forsake his saints. They are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off. 29 The righteous shall inherit the land and dwell upon it forever. 30 The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice. 31 The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not slip. 32 The wicked watches for the righteous and seeks to put him to death. 33 The Lord will not abandon him to his power or let him be condemned when he is brought to trial. 34 Wait for the Lord and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land; you will look on when the wicked are cut off. 35 I have seen a wicked, ruthless man, spreading himself like a green laurel tree. 36 But he passed away, and behold, he was no more; though I sought him, he could not be found. 37 Mark the blameless and behold the upright, for there is a future for the man of peace. 38 But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed; the future of the wicked shall be cut off. 39 The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; he is their stronghold in the time of trouble. 40 The Lord helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.