Posted on Fri, Apr 3, 2009
Rivers of Pleasure (Part 2)
Speaker - Eld. Ayodeji Adesina (Lay Pastor, BHSDAC, London)
(Message summarised by Sis. Ayobola Akwarandu)
Key Text: Psalm 16:11
(Message summarised by Sis. Ayobola Akwarandu)
Key Text: Psalm 16:11
According to the American heritage dictionary, Pleasure is a source of amusement and delight. The Collins dictionary also defines pleasure as being pleased or gratified. The world may seek pleasure in a sinful way. What does the Bible say about this? Prov 21: 17, Eccl 2: 1, Isaiah 2: 4. Solomon concluded that worldly pleasure is nothing but vanity. Isaiah says that after all the time of worldly pleasure, it ends in shame, guilt and fear of justice. The following are 3 principles that guard us from worldly pleasure
- Anything that refreshes or amuses you without distracting you from your final goal is a legitimate pleasure.
- Any pleasure that jeopardises the rights or comforts of others is not legitimate e.g. happy slapping brought pleasure to the doers but discomfort and fear to the victims.
- Any pleasure not kept in balance with reality of your spiritual life, becomes imbalanced for example watching TV for four hours but engaging in prayer for only 5 minutes. This imbalance has made the pleasure illegitimate.
However, we need to know that not all pleasures are bad. God loves pleasure. Some would dispute that God could have pleasure, but God can be pleased and amused. So you may ask, what gives God pleasure? Many think of God as the man up there waiting to strike us dead, but is God like that?
- God takes pleasure in his Son – Fivetimes in the New Testament, God spoke saying He is pleased with His son. When you understand this; when you know it is Jesus who presents your case to God, it will change your outlook (Matt 3: 17, 17: 5, Mark 1: 11).
- God takes pleasure in His House - (Haggai 1: 8) When you realise that God takes pleasure in His House, you will be ready to give to the cause of building a House of Worship. We must remember though that this project will require making effort, making sacrifices. David said he will not take what costs him nothing to give unto God. In our days, it is difficult for people to bring wood and physical materials for the building of the House of God. However, we must be ready to give of our means for this worthy purpose. God takes pleasure in His House, this should change your attitude when coming to Church every Sabbath. When you realise that you are coming to meet with God in His House, which He takes pleasure in, this truth should put a spring in your footstep.
- God takes pleasure in His people - Psalm 149: 4. You were created to worship and praise God. Did you make God happy this week with the way you dealt with people at work or at home? Psalm 147: 10 - 11. God is not amused by the number of degrees or houses or cars or inheritances we have, He is pleased with those who fear him and hope in His mercy. Are you a pleasure to God? Forget the facades we put up and know that God wants to be pleased with you. He loves you so much and gets excited when you go on your knees ready to call on His name. Story is told of a little girl who lost her mum. While in a boat on a lake with her father, the little girl asked her Dad, “does God love us as much as mummy did?” The father initially did not know what to say but looking across the horizon above the water surface, he said, “God’s love is farther than you can see, it is deeper than the ocean floor and higher than the sky”. The girl nodded and then remarked, “and think about it dad, we are right in the middle of it all”. Friends, we need to know that God’s love is greater than we can ever think or imagine.
Pulling these three truths together, imagine what happens every Sabbath when God’s people who He takes pleasure in, meet together in His House, which He takes pleasure in and call on the name of His Son, Jesus, in whom He takes pleasure. What an explosive encounter that ought to be each week as Saints meet for worship!
What are the results of drinking from God’s river of pleasure?
- Psalm 149: 4 – God assures us that He will give salvation.
- When you tap into God’s pleasure, you receive the Kingdom. Luke 12: 32
- When you spend time in worship you’ll also have prosperity, that’s why the Psalmist urges us to drink of the river of pleasure. Psalm 35: 27, Job 36: 11, Psalm 36: 7 - 8.
Why do young people engage in sex, violence and gun crime? It is because they are looking for something that will satisfy their souls. Unfortunately often times Christians fail to radiate the joy and the influence that God desires of us. We must allow the presence of God to fill us with joy and it will bring people to the Kingdom.
The story of the prodigal son reveals some truths in regards to God having pleasure in us as His children. The second son wanted his inheritance immediately and wasted it all on worldly pleasure. When he finally came to his wits end, he realised the wine, women and wealth could not give Godly pleasure. He then arose and went back home, and to his Father. The Bible says when he was still a great way off, the father saw him, wrapped his robes around him and ran to meet his son because he had compassion on him. Oh, what a God we serve.
It doesn’t matter how much you have messed up, God still has compassion on us. The father asked his servants to put the best robes on his son, and a ring on his finger. God is saying that He no longer sees you as filthy but will clothe you with His robe of righteousness and a ring of authority showing that all power on earth He gives to His children. God also gives the sandal of affluence, giving us all the luxury of His home. The fattest calf was killed and merriment began and the son realised that genuine pleasure was at Home. Parents should make Christianity pleasurable for their children, young people need to know that they can experience pleasure in God’s presence.
However, the Bible tells us that when the other son came around and he heard the music and the sound of a party, he was angry. Many Christians also behave this way. Indeed, the older son cannot understand the feeling of a father who has just seen his lost son.
Also, the story of David dancing with gladness, as the Ark of Covenant was returning to Israel, also reveals some truths. 2 Sam 6: 1-16. David took the ark with gladness and worship and sacrifice. David danced before the Lord with all his might wearing a linen ephod. There was shouting and the sound of trumpet. Micah, David’s wife (Saul’s daughter), looked at him and despised him because he worshiped God with his whole heart and for this reason, the Bible says God closed her womb because she despised David for bringing pleasure to Him. Many people unknowingly bring untold curses upon themselves for despising those who worship God with all their heart in their own way.
Let us live our lives to bring pleasure to God. Zephaniah 3: 17 says God Himself rejoices over us with singing and joy. What a God we serve.
Just to let you know that you are all doing a wonderful job. May God bless you and renew His blessings on you daily...amen
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