6-The Pleasure of the Lord
10/6/13
I NTRO :
I. ==> Ephesians 1:3-6
A. Synonymus with his “will”
1) Grk (thelema) pleasure, will, desire, determination
2) Grk (arestos) adj. an agreeable thing
B. We serve at the pleasure of His will
II. Westminster Short Catechism:
Q. What is the chief end of man?
A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.
B ODY :
I. Finding His Pleasure
A. Some people spend their whole lives seeking approval from people.
1) Galatians 1:10
Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.
2) HEMINGWAY—I HATE YOUR BOOK
Most people are way too self-centered to evaluate you anyway
B. God never intended His pleasure to be something hard to obtain.
1) Mark 1:11
And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
2) WANTING MY KIDS TO SUCCEED—BUT LOVING THEM ANYWAY
3) “All I really want for Christmas is someone to tuck me in;
A shoulder to cry on if I lose, shoulders to ride on if I win.”
—Steven Curtis Chapman
II. Serving at His Pleasure
A. There is freedom in learning to serve God out of love and not fear.
1) Psalms 112:1
Blessed are those who fear the Lord, who find great delight in his commands.
2) GROWING FROM A BOY TO A MAN
Motivation of fear is quick in effect but wains as the years go on;
Motivation of love is slower in effect but grows as the years go on.

B. The pleasure of the Lord is with us even when people are not.
1) John 8:29
“The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.”
2) RELEASING PEOPLE TO COME AND SERVE IN MINISTRY
Not recruiting people to help ME with MY ministry
III. Enjoying His Pleasure
A. Without God all we’re left with is chasing after the pleasure of this world.
1) Ephesians 5:8-10
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.
2) “Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling around with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in the slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”—C.S. Lewis
B. Life is so much easier when we learn to rest in His presence.
1) DREAMING ABOUT COMING TO COLUMBIA CITY
2) Matthew 11:28-30
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
3) THE GREATEST JOY OF VICTORIA WAS THAT MOLLY WAS THERE

O
THER
S
CRIPTURES
:
Proverbs 16:7
When the Lord takes pleasure in anyone’s way, he causes their enemies to make peace with them.
Psalms 51:16-17
You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.
Romans 12:2
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
1 Corinthians 1:21-22
For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.
Galatians 1:15-16
But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles.
Ephesians 1:8-9
With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ.
1 Thessalonians 4:1
As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living.
Hebrews 10:6-7
“With burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. Then I said, ‘Here I am— it is written about me in the scroll—I have come to do your will, my God.’”
1 John 3:21-23
Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him.
Revelation 4:11
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. (KJV)