Sermon Central
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A Willingness To Please God
Contributed by Evie Megginson on Aug 7, 2004 (message contributor)
Summary: WE SEE IN THIS SERMON, THE I WILL OF CONFIDENCE,THE I WILL OF CLOSENESS, THE I WILL OF COMPASSION, THE I WILL OF COMPLAINCE, THE I WILL OF CONSECRATION, THE I WILL OF CELEBRATION,AND THE I WILL OF CONDUCT.
A WILLINGNESS TO PLEASE GOD
The Webster’s New Dictionary give the following definition of the word, WILL: A desire, or willingness;a determinatiom;controling one’s action;an act.
We all have a will, and God’s desire is that we exercise it toward Him, making us Christ-like.
Dr. Bob Jones, Sr. said, "Success is knowing the will of God and doing it."
David Brainerd was an American colonial missionary to the Indians who died at the age of twenty-nine. His diary reveals a young man intensely committed to God. Brainerd once said to Jonathan Edwards: “I do not go to heaven to be advanced but to give honor to God. It is no matter where I shall be stationed in heaven, whether I have a high seat or a low seat there...My heaven is to please God and glorify Him, and give all to Him, and to be wholly devoted to His glory.”
I-THERE IS THE I WILL OF CONFIDENCE: ISAIAH 12:2
Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for Jehovah, even Jehovah, is my strength and song; and he is become my salvation.
In his hands I am safe. God is the foundation of our confidence; and trusting in him, his people shall never be moved.
ILLUSTRATION: William Penn, the founder of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, was well liked by the Indians. Once they told him he could have as much of their land as he could encompass on foot in a single day. So, early the next morning he started out and walked until late that night. When he finally went to claim his land, the Indians were greatly surprised, for they really didn’t think he would take them seriously. But they kept their promise and gave him a large area which today is part of the city of Philadelphia. William Penn simply believed what they said. Should we do less with God!We can take God at His word and we can trust Him to do everything he has promised to do-David DeWitt
Our text says, I will trust and not be afraid.
It was F.D.R. who said, in an address to the nation following the attack on Pearl Harbor, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." At first that may sound like double- talk, but it is really a good state- ment.
ILLUSTRATION: A lady told D.L. Moody that she had found a wonderful promise in the Bible that helped her overcome fear. Her verse was Ps. 56:3, "What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee." Mr. Moody replied, "I have a better promise than that!" and he quoted Is. 12:2, "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid; for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation."
II-THERE IS THE I WILL OF CLOSENESS: PSALMS 18:3
I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.
PSALMS 17:15 As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.
[As for me] In strong contrast with the aims, the desires, and the condition of worldly individuals. "They" seek their portion in this life, and are satisfied; "I" cherish no such desires, and have no such prosperity. I look to another world as my home, and shall be satisfied only in the everlasting favor and friendship of God.
The Psalmist also said, “I will draw near to God and fear him”
ILLUSTRATION: Danny Simpson a 24 year old Canadian, went to jail for robbing a bank, in Ottawa. His gun went to a museum. He was arrested for robbing a bank of $6,000 and then sent to jail for six years. He had used a .45 caliber Colt semi-automatic, which turned out to be an antique made by the Ross Rifle Company, Quebec City, in 1918. The pistol is worth up to $100,000. If Danny Simpson had just known what he carried in his hand, he wouldn’t have robbed the bank. In other words, Danny already had what he needed.
There are so many Churches in the world today are searching for power and presence of God, not knowing they already have what they need in their heart.
Heb 10:22 says, “let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.”
We need to draw near to our Father, and we need to learn to have reverence for him.
III-THERE IS THE I WILL OF COMPASSION: PSALMS 18:1
“I WILL love thee, O LORD, my strength.”
Hebrew, love with intense affection , to love from the inmost bowels: The love of God experienced so richly by David generated in him an intense reciprocal love toward God.
