Purpose Driven Life Lesson 8

Planned for God’s Pleasure

Lesson 8

Introduction:

Revelation 4:11 NLT

11 “You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased.”

Psalm 149:4 NLT

4 For the Lord delights in his people; he crowns the humble with victory.

You were planned for God’s pleasure.

· Your birth is no accident

o This is why abortion is evil

· You exist for his benefit, his glory, his purpose, and his delight.

· This is what you have been called to do. Bring God delight

· We often think of nature as God’s greater creation

· When it’s actually you. – You are His crown jewel

· What does this mean? It proves your worth your value

Some people think that God will only love them if they are good enough

o Here is the problem with that.

o You will never be “good enough” to earn God’s love

Ephesians 1:5 GW

5 Because of his love he had already decided to adopt us through Jesus Christ. He freely chose to do this

· God wants us to enjoy life not just endure it.

· The reason you are able to enjoy pleasure is that God made you in his image.

· God has emotion also.

o Genesis 6:6; Exodus 20:5; Deuteronomy 32:36; Judges 2:20; 1 Kings 10:9; 1 Chronicles 16:27; Psalms 2:4; 5:5; 18:19; 35:27; 37:23; 103:13; 104:31; Ezekiel 5:13; 1 John 4:16.

We bring God delight through worship

a. The Bible says

Psalm 147:11 NLT

11 No, the Lord’s delight is in those who fear him, those who put their hope in his unfailing love.

ii. Remember this that worship cover almost anything we do.

iii. Worship is a deep subject

Worship is more than music

a. For many worship and music are synonymous

i. They would say we have a worship time and then the preaching

ii. Every part of church is worship

iii. Every part of a church service is an act of worship: praying, Scripture reading, singing, confession, silence, being still, listening to a sermon, taking notes, giving an offering, baptism, communion, signing a commitment card, and even greeting other worshipers.

iv. I think we can look at those activities differently

b. All forms of music are worship

i. What’s your favorite worship music?

ii. There is no such thing as “Christian” music; there are only Christian lyrics.

iii. It’s not about your preference is about your surrender

iv. The music of Grace Church

Worship is not for your benefit.

a. We worship for God’s benefit.

i. I love this

ii. “I got a lot out of the worship today”

iii. Well you get out of what you put into it.

iv. There are benefits to worship – Edification, evangelism, fellowship

v. But we are here to bring delight to our Lord

vi. Never do cheap worship

vii. God’s heart is not touched by tradition in worship, but by passion and commitment.

Isaiah 29:13 NIV

13 The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught.

Worship is not part of your life

a. It is your life

i. If church is your only worship you have missed it

Psalm 105:4 NLT

4 Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him.

Psalm 113:3 NLT

3 Everywhere—from east to west— praise the name of the Lord.

iv. Praise should be the first activity when you open your eyes in the morning and the last activity when you close them at night.

Psalm 119:147 NLT

147 I rise early, before the sun is up; I cry out for help and put my hope in your words.

Psalm 119:148 NLT

148 I stay awake through the night, thinking about your promise.

b. Everything we do is worship

Colossians 3:23 NIV

23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,

ii. I will go through my day and think about Tina often. I wonder what she is doing I picture her in my mind. I look forward to her calls or text messages. I often end calls to take her call. Not sorry.

iii. When we see Jesus the same way we are worshipping.