Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday morning and evening, August 25, 2002, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia.
WHAT GOD ENJOYS DOING
By Michael D. O’Neal Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church Albany, Georgia
Scripture Reading: Psalms 115:1-18
Text: Psalms 115:3
Psalms 115:3 But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.
Introduction: The longer you get to know someone, the more you should know about what makes that person happy. It is evidence that you do not know a person well if you do not know what he likes. God will let you know what He likes, what pleases Him, if you just want to know:
Ephesians 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Ephesians 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
On Wednesday nights we are trying to get to know the Lord Jesus Christ better in our messages in the gospel of John. Today I want us to learn more about God the Father as we find in the Bible what pleases Him! WHAT DOES GOD ENJOY?
I. IT PLEASED GOD TO DEVELOP THE UNIVERSE
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.
A. He placed the stars
B. He prepared the earth for man
C. He promises to renew it in the millennium and replace it in eternity!
II. IT PLEASED GOD TO DWELL IN A BODY
Colossians 1:19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
It pleased God that
A. Jesus solved a problem – how to reconcile man to God
B. Jesus suffered persecution
C. Jesus supplied pardon for you and me!
III. IT PLEASED GOD TO DRAW SINNERS TO HIMSELF
Ezekiel 33:11 Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
A. Through the passion of Calvary
- Isaiah 53:10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
B. Through the power of Christ
C. Through the preaching of the cross
- 1 Corinthians 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
IV. IT PLEASES GOD TO DO GOOD TO HIS PEOPLE
Numbers 24:1 And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.
It brings God joy to
A. Pardon His people
B. Protect His people
C. Provide for His people
D. Prompt and direct His people
V. IT PLEASED GOD TO DESIGN BODIES FOR US
1 Corinthians 15:38 But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.
God has enjoyed preparing
A. Healthy bodies for us
B. Holy bodies for us
C. Heavenly bodies for us
VI. IT PLEASES GOD TO DELIVER TO US THE KINGDOM
Luke 12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
The kingdoms of this world are going to be turned over to the Lord Jesus Christ one day, and He, as King of kings and Lord of Lords, will turn them over to:
A. His saints
B. His servants
- Colossians 3:24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
C. His sufferers
- 2 Timothy 2:12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
VII. IT PLEASES GOD TO DESIGNATE JOBS FOR US TODAY
1 Corinthians 12:18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
Galatians 1:15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace,
It pleases God as: