Our opening service of 2008, I preached a message entitled "The Four Vessels of Pleasure." I find four types of pleasure in the scripture. The pleasure of sin, which is for a season and which God takes no pleasure in. The pleasure of self, which is serving the flesh. Even when pleasing self is not sin, in the flesh we cannot please God. The third pleasure is pleasing man. This is more selfless that serving self. It is more noble and honorable to serve others, but it becomes a problem when it keeps us from pleasing God. In 2008, our church will strive to attain unto the fourth pleasure: Pleasing God. When a man's ways please God, He maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him. . . . and at His right hand are pleasures for ever more.
There is no greater pleasure than to be in His presence, walk in the spirit and be used of God according to his pleasure. We want to please God, knowing that if we seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, all these things shall be added. . . Too often we start at the bottom. We please ourself, then others and we leave a little room for Jesus. The Bible warns that in the last days men would be lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. We please God when our first thought is to please Him.
My mother once told me the way to real JOY was to put Jesus first "J" then Others "O" then Yourself last "Y". This is more than a cute little mnemonic. The older I get, the more I realize the theological accuracy, the ultimate importance of this.
Let's go forward in 2008, to be above all else a vessel of His pleasure!
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