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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Desire (01/17/05)
The Bible tells us to “…delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart (Psalms 37:4 NIV). Many who are disappointed in life or are even angry with God as a result do not perceive that their desires have been fulfilled at all. Their fury is further inflamed when they see the desires of others (who in their estimation do not deserve it) being fulfilled.

There are many reasons for why blatant sinners do not immediately receive divine discipline (Heb. 12:6) and often experience satanic blessings (Luke 4:6) while others, who strive to live for God (2Tim. 3:12), seem to receive nothing more than pain, heartache, and persecution (Rom. 2: 4/2Pet. 3: 9).

It’s the devil’s world and we shouldn’t expect anything different from him. But before we get too upset with God, we should consider where any one of us would be if God did not extend the same grace to us that we see Him extending to others. If God were to give any one of us what we deserved, we would ALL have nothing but misery in this life and an eternity in Hell!

Regarding the “justice” is all of this, should sinful Man expect to have all his desires fulfilled when God’s are not? God desires that all men be saved (1Tim. 2:4), but many will not (Rev. 20: 15). God desires that all born again believers advance to discipleship but many will not (Luke 8:14). God desires that we “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2Pet.3: 18 NIV)”, but many will not. God desires that we live Spirit filled (Rom. 8:4) lives, but many will not.

God owes Man nothing, but chooses to give Man much. Whatever good we receive from God is from His grace and therefore is totally undeserved on our part. It is NOT payment for being “good” or having done “good” deeds (Rom. 11:6/2Tim.1: 9). We can take no credit for it (John 15:5) and God owes does not owe us anything for it as we “have only done our duty (Luke 17:10 NIV)”.

Truly God “rewards those who earnestly seek him (Heb.11: 6 NIV), but the rewards (1Cor.3: 12-15) are NEVER to be the motivation for ANYTHING we do.

When God, in such passages as (Mark 11:24/Matt. 18:19), tells us we can ask for and receive anything, it does not mean that ALL that we ask for will be received. All prayer is to be offered to God the Father, in the Power of the Holy Spirit and in the Name of The Lord Jesus Christ. The phrase “in His Name” means that the request must be presented to God the Father through access that was made possible through the Lord Jesus Christ and in line with His will. Concluding our prayers with such praises as “In Jesus’ Name we pray” is to acknowledge His will in the desires presented in prayer, NOT to be used to try to influence God to do something as if it were a premium for “prayer insurance”. God is under no obligation to do anything apart from His will. In fact, He will NOT to do anything that in contrary to His Word, character, or will.

To understand the promise of Psalms 37: 4, we must make a distinction between having a desire and receiving the object of that desire. For example, desiring to be rich and famous does not make one so.

The passage promises to give us the DESIRES that are consistent with His will and then fulfill them. The verse does NOT promise to give us anything that our hearts desire if what we desire is inconsistent with His timing and/or will. The desires of one’s heart when a person is seeking God and the things of God is the opposite of the desires that the same person will have when he seeks to please self!

If and when we reach the point of maximum spiritual maturity, the ONLY desire that we will have will be to seek and do His will. When His desires and ours are the same, we can confidently say that all our desires will be fulfilled. These are the promised desires of Psalms 37:4.
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All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION (R) Copyright (C) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All Rights reserved.
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Debbie OConnor
01/24/05
This would be an excellent sermon. I also think it is a very good entry. Well written and well substantiated with scripture. I struggled with this mentality for a time in my Christian walk. Your words brought those days back clearly. Feeling guilty if I didn't do things perfectly, afraid God would strike me down and on the flip side, feeling He would bless me if I behaved. Such slavery. It is by grace alone that we are saved.
Phyllis Inniss 
01/26/05
This is a sound message, very profound. I am glad I took the time to read it. I remember passing through the phase of wondering why other people who seem to be disobeying the Lord's Word seem to be doing much better than I was, but a closer walk with God showed me the error of my thinking.
Deborah Anderson
01/28/05
Preach it! :-) God bless you.